Cash Buyers in Miami, FL — Is Selling to a Cash Buyer Worth It?
Cash buyers and iBuyers in Miami offer speed and certainty — but typically pay 10–15% below what your home would sell for on the open market. On a $580,000 Miami home, that discount is $58,000–$87,000 out of your pocket. Flat fee MLS offers a middle path: list on the Miami MLS for $99, reach all buyer agents and cash buyers simultaneously, and let market competition drive your price. Most Miami sellers who list on the MLS net significantly more than cash-buyer offers — even after paying buyer-agent commission.
What Cash Buyers Actually Pay in Miami, FL
"We buy houses" companies and iBuyers in Miami use a simple formula: after-repair value (ARV) minus repair costs minus holding costs minus profit margin — typically netting 72–85% of what your home would sell for on the open market. On a $580,000 Miami home in good condition, a cash offer might come in at $475,600–$510,400 — versus $565,500+ (after buyer-agent commission) if listed on the Miami MLS.
Flat Fee MLS vs. Selling to a Cash Buyer: The Math
On a $580,000 Miami home: a cash buyer at 85% of value offers $493,000 with no commissions and closes in 2–3 weeks. Selling via flat fee MLS costs $99 + 2.5% buyer-agent commission ($14,500) and closes in 45–75 days at full market value (~$580,000). Your flat fee MLS net: approximately $565,401 — versus $493,000 for the cash offer. The difference: $72,401 more by listing on the MLS. That's real money worth the extra few weeks.
When a Cash Buyer Makes Sense in Miami
A cash sale makes sense in specific situations: your home needs major repairs that make it unfinanceable for conventional buyers; you need to close in under 30 days due to relocation, divorce, or financial hardship; or the home has title complications that make an open-market sale difficult. If none of these apply and your Miami home is in reasonable condition, listing on the MLS via flat fee MLS will almost always net more than a cash offer.