Faulty reasoning signals

• Attempt to Sell a Product or Service - 28.5%
• Appeal to Authority - 18.7%
• Hasty Generalization - 16.4%

Article text

If you’re planning to sell your home, you’re probably sprucing it up, interviewing real estate agents, and planning for the inconveniences that come with selling a home.

But what if there were an easier way?

For some homeowners, speed, certainty, and convenience are more important than wringing every possible dollar out of a house. And, for those owners, selling directly to a home flipper and accepting a cash price lower than fair market value might be the good choice.

“Many people assume we only buy homes from sellers in distress, but that’s often not the case,” said Shad Elia , president of New England Home Buyers in Haverhill. “Sell Your House Fast In Any Condition,” the website says.

“We understand that a cash offer isn’t the right fit for everyone. It’s typically the best option for someone who values convenience, certainty, and speed over maximizing the sales price,” said Elia.

Someone who inherited a home in Massachusetts , but who lives elsewhere, for example, would be a good fit for a cash buyer, Elia said. As would a homeowner facing costly repairs like a failed septic system, or anyone who doesn’t want the hassle of fixing up a property before selling. Another good fit: people who work from home and don’t want the disruption of strangers walking through their home for showings.

Shad Elia with a sign for his company New England Home Buyers. – New England Home Buyers

In January, John Molkentine, 58, and his wife, Tina Molkentine, 59, sold a four-bedroom, one-bathroom Cape Cod-style house in Nashua, N.H., to Elia for $302,000. The house was 70 years old and in good shape, but it needed some cosmetic updates, John said. The couple wanted to move quickly, into a single-story home, for health reasons. They closed a month after their initial meeting with Elia, netting about $160,000. Although John Molkentine admits they would have made more if they did the renovations themselves and then listed the house with an agent, he said the transaction was “fast and painless.”

After purchasing that home, Elia installed a new kitchen with white shaker cabinets, stainless-steel appliances, and quartz countertops; he updated the bathroom and replaced the flooring. The house sold in April for $530,000 — over the asking price — after Elia invested about $100,000 for the updates and paid a real estate commission of $30,000.

John and Tina Molkentine’s kitchen when they sold to New England Home Buyers. – New England Home Buyers

John and Tina Molkentine’s kitchen after the flip by New England Home Buyers. – Dream Home Shots

According to property data firm ATTOM , 64,348 single-family homes and condominiums were flipped nationally in the first quarter of 2026, accounting for 8 percent of home sales. Flips, however, are less common in Greater Boston because of the high barrier to entry for investors.

“Investors paid a median purchase price of $520,000 to acquire single-family homes and condos they flipped in Boston in Q1 2026, compared to about $260,000 nationally, limiting the pool of investors and slowing deal flow,” said Rob Barber , ATTOM’s chief executive officer.

“While profits remain solid, higher acquisition costs and longer timelines to flip, averaging about 186 days, keep the flipping rate relatively low at roughly 6.2 percent in Boston and 6.6 percent statewide, compared to more affordable, higher-turnover markets.”

While many owners opt to sell to local companies like Elia’s because they’ve seen online ads or been lured by signs that say “We Buy Ugly Houses,” others may prefer to deal with a larger firm like Tempe, Ariz.-based Opendoor , a public company that has been buying homes for cash since 2014 and claims it offers sellers a more certain way to sell and buy a home. Opendoor president Lucas Matheson said that the company purchases single-family homes throughout the continental United States, although it will also purchase townhouses and condominiums in selected markets. Sellers pay a service charge that typically runs around 5 percent, along with standard closing costs paid to third parties. Interested home owners can enter their address at Opendoor.com to see if their home qualifies and how much the company would offer. There is no real estate commission due for direct sales to Opendoor.

“Our perfect customer is somebody looking for a better experience to sell their home quickly,” said Matheson.

Real estate professionals counter by driving home that those who sell to flippers are leaving money on the table.

“For most homeowners, the equity in their home represents a significant portion of their personal wealth, so getting the most for their home is often a major priority,” said Colleen Barry , chief executive officer of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty in Boston. “While selling directly to an investor or home-flipping company may offer convenience, homeowners should understand that investors, flippers, and developers build renovation costs and profit into their offers. The highest price is often paid by an end-user who intends to live in the home.”

Elia suggests that homeowners explore both options and talk to both a real estate agent and cash buyer.

“It comes down to what your goals are — how much convenience you’re looking for and what you value most,” he said. “Just be sure you talk to multiple companies, check their online reviews to make sure sellers have had good experiences, and then go with the company you feel most comfortable with.”

A carpeted ’70s time-capsule house went under contract in weeks. What’s the appeal?

See how this former HGTV couple lovingly restores some of Massachusetts’ oldest homes

Robyn A. Friedman is an award-winning freelance writer who has covered real estate and personal finance for over two decades. Follow her @robynafriedman.

Our weekly digest on buying, selling, and design, with expert advice and insider neighborhood knowledge.

To comment, please create a screen name in

verify your email address

Mac Jones opens up about his tumultuous time with the Patriots

Braintree man who fell ill while overseas for wedding has died

3 New England hotels just ranked among the 100 best in the world

NBA Insider: Teams had 'intel' impacting Jaylen Brown's trade value

Lawsuit: ICE detained East Boston father despite legal status

The Bank of Mom and Dad may have tax consequences: What to know about gifting a house or down payment

No walls, no problem? Should you buy a partially finished house?

Best places to buy in the Berkshires where the pace of life — and the market — is slower