Call (209) 418-7595 — Free Cash Offer
Bay Area · Berkeley

Cash for Berkeley — Rent Board and all.

Berkeley housing is mostly century-old Brown Shingles and Craftsman, sitting on top of the Hayward Fault, governed by one of the strictest rent boards in California. None of that scares us off. We cover the progressive transfer tax (1.5%-2.5%), keep tenants in place under existing Rent Board rules, and underwrite seismic retrofits realistically. Cash offer in 24h, close in 7-21 days.

All ZIPs94701-94720
Rent-controlTenants stay
Transfer taxWe pay it
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25+
Years buying
300+
Homes purchased
★★★★★ 4.9
Google rating
BBB
A+ Accredited
7-21
Days to close

Berkeley notes

Rent Board, Hayward Fault, transfer tax — priced in.

Berkeley's rules don't make a regular cash offer impossible — they make it pointless to pretend they aren't there. The Rent Board controls rents on most pre-1980 multifamily and limits how a buyer can change occupancy. The Hayward Fault runs straight under the city, so seismic retrofit cost is real on pretty much every pre-war SFR. The progressive transfer tax adds 1.5% under $1.6M and 2.5% above. We bake all three into the offer instead of acting surprised in escrow.

Active across North Berkeley, South Berkeley, West Berkeley, the Hills, Elmwood, Claremont, Thousand Oaks, and the campus side. Brown Shingles and Maybeck-era Craftsmans in the Hills, post-war stock in West Berkeley, student-rental duplexes near Telegraph — we comp each one in the right submarket.

How it works in Berkeley

Form to wire — three steps.

Same path for a Brown Shingle in the Hills or a campus-adjacent duplex.

1

Send us the address

One minute on the form. We pull comps inside your submarket and verify Rent Board coverage if it's pre-1980 multifamily.

2

Walk & offer in 24 hours

Walkthrough — by video if there's an active tenant. Written offer with comps, repair line items, seismic retrofit budget, and transfer-tax math spelled out.

3

Close through Alameda County title

10-21 days standard — add a few days for the Berkeley transfer-tax filing. You sign locally, the wire hits at recording.

Why People Sell

Any situation. We can help.

Whatever's making you want to sell — chances are we've handled it before.

📜

Probate

Inherited a home stuck in probate? We work directly with attorneys.
⚠️

Foreclosure

Behind on payments? Sell before auction and protect your credit.
🏠

Inherited House

Don't want the family home? Sell as-is, leave anything behind.
💔

Divorce

Need to liquidate quickly and split equity? Your closing date, not ours.

See all 14 situations →

Honest Comparison

Cash sale vs. listing with an agent

What each route really costs once you count the weeks, not just the price.

Redwood Property Buyers
Listing with an agent
How long it takes
✓One to three weeks
Two to three months, typically
Showings
✓None
Strangers through the house for weeks
Repairs
✓Nothing — we take it as it stands
Commonly five to thirty thousand
Cleaning
✓Leave whatever you like
Scrubbed before every showing
Commissions
✓$0
Five to six percent off the top
Closing costs
✓We pay
One to three percent, out of your proceeds
Re-trading after inspection
✓Never
Common
Risk the loan collapses
✓None — we are not borrowing
Roughly one deal in eight dies here
Will it actually close
✓Yes, on the date you picked
Uncertain

More Bay Area cities

Other places we cover nearby

San FranciscoOaklandSan JoseFremontHaywardConcord

FAQ

Berkeley — FAQ

Something we didn't cover? Pick up the phone, we'll answer it straight.

How strict is Berkeley rent control, really? +
Among the strictest in California — Just Cause for Eviction plus Rent Stabilization, administered by the Berkeley Rent Board. We buy under the existing regulations. The tenant stays at the current rent and we step in as landlord. We do not use Ellis Act to clear units.
Do you cover every Berkeley neighborhood? +
All of it — North Berkeley, South Berkeley, West Berkeley, the Hills, Elmwood, Claremont, Thousand Oaks, and the campus-adjacent streets. Across 94701 through 94720.
What about the older 1900s-1940s housing stock? +
That's most of what's here. Brown Shingles, Craftsman bungalows, Tudor revivals with original systems and a lot of deferred maintenance. Knob-and-tube wiring, lead paint, original galvanized plumbing — none of it stops us from writing. We just factor the budget into the offer.
Can you handle seismic issues — unreinforced foundations, soft-story? +
Yes. The Hayward Fault runs right through Berkeley, and most pre-war housing has some combination of unreinforced cripple walls, soft-story garages, and original chimneys. We've bought plenty of seismic-flagged properties and budget retrofit cost into the offer accordingly.
Will you buy UC Berkeley student rentals? +
Yes — multi-unit student housing near campus is part of our regular pipeline. We honor the existing leases through transition and step in as landlord under the Rent Board rules at close.
How does Berkeley transfer tax work, and who pays? +
Berkeley's transfer tax is progressive — 1.5% under $1.6M, 2.5% above. It's traditionally a seller cost, but we cover it as part of our closing-cost commitment. The dollar amount on the offer is what wires to your account.

Get Started

Ready to see your cash offer?

Send us the address. We'll review and call within 24 hours with a real number — no obligation, no credit check, no high-pressure follow-up.

(209) 418-7595 Or fill out the form

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