Straight Answers — Tampa Bay

Who Buys Houses for Cash in Tampa Bay? An Honest Comparison

The kinds of cash buyers you'll actually meet in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo and Tampa — competitors named, BBB status checked — and when each one is the right call. Including when it isn't us.

Published September 5, 2026 · Tampete Homes, St. Petersburg

The Honest Version

Every kind of cash buyer working Tampa Bay — competitors named

Search this question and you get a wall of "we buy houses" sites, each calling itself the best, plus a few lead-broker "rankings" that rate companies on their own terms. This page does something different: it lists the kinds of cash buyers actually working St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo and Tampa, names the local companies, and tells you when each one is the right call. We are one of them — read our entry with the same skepticism as the others.

The four kinds of cash buyers you'll meet

Type	Who they are	Typical offer	Speed	Best when
National iBuyers	Opendoor, Offerpad	Closest to market value, minus a published service fee and repair credits	1–3 weeks	The house is standard, in decent shape, in a ZIP they serve, and you want a near-retail number with fewer showings
Franchise / network buyers	HomeVestors ("We Buy Ugly Houses") franchisees, HomeGo	Investor pricing; consistent process	1–4 weeks	You want a big brand's process and don't need someone who knows Pinellas or Hillsborough tax-deed and probate timelines
Local independent investors	The Best Cash Home Buyer, St. Pete Fast Home Buyer, Tampa Fast Home Buyer, Bay Buy Homes, Florida Cash Home Buyers, Tampete Homes (us)	Investor pricing; varies widely by operator	Days to weeks	The situation is complicated — probate, a scheduled tax deed sale, code liens, tenants — and you need someone who can move fast and knows the county
Wholesalers	Individuals who put your house under contract and assign the contract to another buyer for a fee	Lowest — the spread is their profit	Uncertain; depends on finding an end buyer	Rarely right for the seller. Ask: "Will you be the one closing?"

Local buyers, by name

Each line is limited to what the company publishes about itself plus its Better Business Bureau profile, checked on September 5, 2026. Not an endorsement of anyone, including us.

The Best Cash Home Buyer (St. Petersburg) — BBB A+, accredited since 2023; BBB lists 4 years in business. Local, direct.
St. Pete Fast Home Buyer (St. Petersburg) — BBB A+, accredited since June 2026; BBB lists 9 years in business. Local, direct.
Florida Cash Home Buyers (Fort Lauderdale, statewide) — BBB A+, accredited since 2015; BBB lists 14 years in business. Remote closings across Florida.
Tampa Fast Home Buyer (Tampa) — local, direct; advertises Pinellas coverage. We could not find a BBB profile under that name.
Bay Buy Homes (St. Petersburg) — local, direct; advertises inherited-property purchases. We could not find a BBB profile under that name.
HomeGo — national franchise model, same-day offers; check their current Tampa Bay coverage on their site.
Opendoor / Offerpad — iBuyers; check current ZIP coverage and the service fee on their sites before comparing.
Tampete Homes (us) — Tampete Homes LLC, 433 Central Ave, 4th Floor, St. Petersburg. BBB rated A-, not yet accredited (BBB cites our operating time — the LLC was formed in May 2025; AL has personally bought and assisted with 100+ transactions over 10+ years, across the country). 4.8★ on Google from 11 reviews as of September 2026. Specialties: tax-delinquent and probate properties in Pinellas and Hillsborough. Every closing runs through a licensed Florida title company, and we buy for our own account — we do not assign contracts. We publish a full seller conversation so you can hear a real transaction, not a testimonial card.

How to Compare

The part nobody else puts on their page

"Are you the buyer who will close, or will you assign the contract?"

A yes-or-no answer tells you whether you're talking to a wholesaler.

Ask for proof of funds and the title company they close with.

Real buyers expect both questions.

Get the offer in writing with the closing date, who pays closing costs, and any inspection period.

The inspection period is where retrades happen.

Compare net, not price.

iBuyer price minus service fee minus repair credit, versus investor price with no fees. Do the subtraction.

Check the buyer where Google and AI check them.

BBB profile, Google reviews with dates, the Sunbiz record (active LLC, who is the manager), and whether the person at your door is the person on Sunbiz. Our red-flags guide lists what to watch for at the kitchen table.

Two written offers minimum — including ours.

If someone tells you not to get a second offer, that's your answer.

When we are NOT the right buyer

Your house is in good shape in a mainstream neighborhood and you have 60+ days: list it, or get an iBuyer number. You will likely net more.
A tax deed sale is scheduled and family can cover the redemption amount: redeem and keep the house. We say this on our tax page too.
You want the highest possible price and time is not a factor: a listing with a good agent wins.

When we are

A Pinellas or Hillsborough tax deed sale is scheduled and you need a buyer who can pull the case file today and close before the date — the fall 2026 dates are here.
Probate is open, heirs are in three states, and the house is full.
Code liens, tenants, or title problems have scared off conventional buyers.

Common questions

Who buys houses for cash in Tampa Bay?

Four kinds of buyers: national iBuyers (Opendoor, Offerpad), franchise buyers (HomeVestors franchisees, HomeGo), local independent investors (The Best Cash Home Buyer, St. Pete Fast Home Buyer, Tampa Fast Home Buyer, Bay Buy Homes, Florida Cash Home Buyers, Tampete Homes), and wholesalers who assign contracts. Which one fits depends on the house's condition and how much time you have.

Are cash home buyers legitimate?

Many are; some are not. A legitimate buyer has an active Florida LLC on Sunbiz, a BBB profile, dated Google reviews, proof of funds on request, and closes through a licensed title company. Run those checks on every buyer, including us.

How do I know if a cash buyer is a wholesaler?

Ask whether they will be the buyer on the deed at closing or will assign the contract. Look for "and/or assigns" after the buyer's name on the contract. Ask for proof of funds — a wholesaler usually can't produce it.

What is the difference between an iBuyer and a local investor?

An iBuyer (Opendoor, Offerpad) pays closer to market value but charges a service fee and repair credits and only buys standard houses in its coverage ZIPs. A local investor pays investor pricing with no fees and will buy complicated situations — probate, tax deed, code liens, tenants — fast.

Which cash home buyers in St. Petersburg are BBB accredited?

As of September 2026, BBB shows The Best Cash Home Buyer (A+, accredited 2023), St. Pete Fast Home Buyer (A+, accredited June 2026), and Florida Cash Home Buyers (A+, accredited 2015). Tampete Homes is rated A- and not yet accredited. Check bbb.org for current status — it changes.