The Math Behind Getting the Best Cash Offer for Your House in Maryland

If you’ve seen a flood of “We Buy Houses” signs around Maryland, you’re probably wondering how those buyers come up with their offers—and whether you can truly trust them. The unfortunate reality is that some property buyers do toss out rock-bottom numbers in the hope of grabbing a quick deal at your expense.

At We Buy MD Homes / Brad Buys Houses, our approach is entirely different. We’re a local Maryland company, not a national chain. We base every offer on a transparent formula—no emotion, no underhanded tactics. Below, we’ll walk you through exactly how we calculate our cash offers so you can see why our process is not just fast but fair.

Local Roots, Local Insight

As a Baltimore-born and raised cash buyer, I’ve spent my entire life immersing myself in the unique culture and property values of this vibrant region. Unlike large, out-of-state operations, We Buy MD Homes understands the subtle differences between Baltimore’s neighborhoods—from the classic rowhouses near the Inner Harbor to the spacious suburban homes in nearby counties. This local expertise helps us stay on top of Maryland’s changing real estate trends, allowing us to make offers that truly reflect each property’s potential—not just random numbers. By blending firsthand experience with real-time market data, we’re able to pinpoint accurate valuations and present you with a fair, competitive cash offer for your home, every single time.

Strong Reputation for Integrity

At We Buy MD Homes, our main objective is win-win solutions: we want to see Maryland homeowners sell quickly and stress-free, while we earn a modest profit to keep our business sustainable. This balanced approach has helped us build a solid reputation for honesty and transparency in the local community. We’re not interested in one-and-done deals; rather, we strive to foster trustworthy relationships by being open about our processes, fees, and timelines. When you work with us, you’ll never have to guess if you’re getting a fair shake—you’ll see the numbers and understand how we arrived at them. To learn more about verifying the trustworthiness of a Maryland cash buyer, be sure to visit our guide on finding a legitimate buyer in Maryland. By doing your homework and asking the right questions, you’ll feel confident in partnering with We Buy MD Homes for a fast, fair, and hassle-free sale.

Our Straightforward Formula for Fair Offers

Forget random numbers or gut feelings. Our no obligation, cash offers are based purely on math – no emotion, no other factors. We rely on a data-driven formula:

Your Offer =
After Repair Value
– Cost of Repairs
– Closing / Holding / Re-Selling Costs
– Our Minimum Profit

Let’s break down each piece:

After Repair Value (ARV)
This is the price your home could likely fetch after we make all the necessary repairs and updates. We look at comparable recently sold homes in your neighborhood—especially ones that have been fully renovated. Our comps are generally sales within the past three to six months. In cases, where there are no comps that fit the criteria, we go out a year. Bear in mind, these are ACTUAL, SOLD, COMPS not pending sales or properties that are listed. Most real estate investors in Maryland don’t speculate on future prices. What matters is what has been sold recently.

Cost of Repairs (COR)
This covers the expenses we’ll incur to bring your property up to the ARV standard. Think roof repairs, HVAC upgrades, kitchen and bathroom remodels, and so on. We typically perform a thorough walkthrough with a trusted contractor to create an accurate estimate.

Closing / Holding / Re-Selling Costs
We pay the closing costs and other carrying costs when we eventually resell the property. Once your home is fully rehabbed, we’ll have to pay agent fees, closing costs, taxes, and other title related we eventually resell the property. These typically amount to roughly 10% of the ARV.

Our Minimum Profit
We Buy MD Homes is in the business of making a profit and you no doubt understand that. We aren’t about lowballing Baltimore homeowners or overpromising on offers we can’t actually close. But we do need a profit margin to keep our business running and to ensure we can continue helping other homeowners. By keeping this profit as low as possible, we can give you a much better offer than low-ball operators who try to maximize profit on a single purchase.

Real-World Example #1: House with Extensive Repairs

Let’s take a look at a situation where a house in Baltimore needs a total rehab in order to re-sell at the best market value. Note that even basic cosmetic repairs run us a minimum of $20,000 in most cases. Here is how it breaks down:

As-Is Value: $185,000 – this is what a realtor would list it for on the MLS
ARV (After Repair Value): $350,000
Cost of Repairs (COR): $90,000
Closing/ Holding/ Re-Selling Costs: 10% of $350,000 = $35,000
Our Minimum Profit: $70,000

In this case the fair offer for the property looks like this:
Offer = $350K − $90K − $35K − $70K = $155K

Your Guarantee:
Immediate sale at $155K in as little as 30 days, with zero out-of-pocket repair or closing costs for you. Compare that to listing at $185K, then paying 6% in commissions and other fees—plus waiting potentially months for a buyer.

Real-World Example #2: Lighter Renovation

Let’s say that after inspection, we determine that a house only needs a light to medium rehab. Remember, a realtor will still list it at $185,000. But watch what happens to the cash offer if the cost of repairs is only $40,000. It dramatically changes things and makes a cash offer very attractive, based on the information

As-Is Value: $185,000
ARV (After Repair Value): $350,000
Cost of Repairs (COR): $40,000
Selling Costs: $35,000 (10% of ARV)
Our Minimum Profit: $70,000

Offer = $350K − $40K − $35K − $70K = $205K

In this scenario, we’d offer $205K, which is more than the $185,000 “as-is” listing price—and even higher than your potential net after closing costs on a traditional sale.

Why Sell for Cash Instead of Listing?

Speed & Convenience
When you sell your Maryland house for cash, you don’t have to endure the lengthy prep work, home inspections, and open-house showings that can drag out a traditional sale. Instead of spending thousands on remodeling a kitchen or repairing an aging roof, you can sell as-is—which means no further investment of time or money. At We Buy MD Homes, we streamline the entire process so you can move on quickly, whether that’s to upsize, downsize, or simply cut ties with an unwanted property.

Certainty of Close
In a conventional sale, a buyer’s financing can collapse at the last minute if their loan application falls through or if the appraisal doesn’t match the bank’s expectations. This leaves you back at square one—re-listing your property and starting the waiting game all over again. With a cash offer, you skip the mortgage approval process altogether, significantly reducing the risk of last-minute surprises. As a result, you can count on a firm closing date with minimal stress or disruption.

No Hidden Fees
Between agent commissions, closing costs, and potential concessions to the buyer, a traditional real estate transaction can quickly eat into your bottom line. With We Buy MD Homes, none of those fees exist for the seller. We absorb the closing costs and there’s no agent’s commission to worry about. That means the offer we make is the amount you walk away with—giving you a crystal-clear picture of your net proceeds from day one.

Flexible Timeline
Need to close in as little as 30 days—or even sooner? A cash sale makes that possible. We Buy MD Homes can often align with your schedule, whether you’re facing a job relocation, dealing with an inherited property, or simply want to avoid months of uncertainty. By eliminating lenders, inspections, and buyer contingencies, you maintain greater control over the timeline, making the entire process smoother and more convenient for you.

Building Trust and Credibility
Local Expertise: We understand Maryland’s real estate market intricately—whether it’s Baltimore City row homes or suburban properties.

Transparent Process: We show you exactly how we arrive at our offer.

Strong Reputation: Our reviews and testimonials speak for themselves. Feel free to read more about our proven track record of fair dealing on our company page.

No Pressure: Our offers come with no obligation to accept. If you’d rather explore other options, we fully support your decision.

Ready for a No-Obligation Offer for Your House in Baltimore?

If you’re ready to see how our numbers-only approach works for your Maryland property, get in touch!

We’ll:
Schedule a brief walkthrough.
Calculate exact repair and listing costs.
Present a fair cash offer, backed by real math.

From there, the choice is yours. We’ll close on your schedule—swiftly and with minimal disruption to your life.

Put our formula to the test! Reach out now for a fast, transparent, and fair cash offer on your Maryland house. Let’s transform what might feel like an overwhelming situation into a stress-free solution that works for you.