SGV Home Buyers 📞 626-654-3812

📋 Code violations & liens

Selling a House With Code Violations or Liens

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Code violations, open permits, and liens (legal claims against your property for money owed) turn a normal sale into a maze. Cities want the work fixed or permitted before the home changes hands, lenders won’t finance a home that isn’t up to code, and a clouded title — unresolved claims on the property’s ownership record — can stop a deal cold. For an owner who just wants out, it can feel like the property is stuck.

It isn’t. We buy homes with violations and liens as-is, and we sort out what’s owed as part of the closing. Liens are paid from the sale proceeds through the title company; violations and unpermitted work become our problem the moment we close. You don’t fix anything, pull any permits, or clear any balances out of pocket.

Here are the issues we most often buy through.

We handle these

Issues we buy through

Code violationsOpen citations and non-compliant work, taken on as-is.
Open or expired permitsUnfinished or unpermitted additions and conversions.
LiensTax, mechanic's, judgment, or HOA liens — settled at closing.
Unpermitted ADUsGarage conversions and additions that won't pass inspection.

Most of these can be resolved during escrow. We do the legwork so problems that stalled a normal sale don't stop ours.

60-second quiz

What’s the best way to sell your house?

There are two main ways to sell: list it with a real-estate agent (put it on the open market for the highest price, but with fees, prep, and waiting) or sell it as-is — exactly as it stands, no repairs — to a cash buyer (fast and certain, but usually for less). Answer five quick questions and we’ll tell you which likely fits you — and why. No email required, and it’s honest: sometimes listing wins.

1. What kind of shape is your home in?

Homes that need major work usually can’t be sold to a normal buyer, because a bank won’t approve a loan on a house in poor condition.

2. How soon do you need to sell?
3. Could you comfortably pay for repairs and the monthly costs of owning the home while it sells?

Every month a home sits unsold you still pay the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, and utilities — those are called carrying costs.

4. How much does it matter that the sale is a sure thing — that it won’t collapse at the last minute?

In a normal sale the buyer usually needs a mortgage, and some of those fall through late in the process, sending you back to square one.

5. Is anything complicated about the property or your situation?

For example: a home you inherited that’s still going through court (probate), unpaid debts attached to the property (liens), current tenants, or building-code violations.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell a house with open code violations?

Yes. We buy homes with active code violations as-is — you don't have to bring the property into compliance first. We take on the work and the cost of resolving it after closing.

There's a lien on my property. Can it still be sold?

Yes. Liens get paid out of the sale proceeds at closing through the title company, so the debt is cleared and you keep whatever equity remains. We handle tax, mechanic's, judgment, and HOA liens regularly.

What about unpermitted additions or a converted garage?

Not a problem. Unpermitted work that scares off financed buyers and their lenders is fine with us — we buy the home in its current state and deal with the permitting ourselves.

Do I need to know exactly what's owed?

No. We can pull a preliminary title report that shows the liens and amounts, so you'll see exactly where things stand before you decide anything.

Where we work

Selling in one of these cities?

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Request your free cash offer

Tell us about your property and the best number to reach you. We’ll call you back with a fair, no-obligation cash offer — no pressure, no spam. Prefer to talk now? Call 626-654-3812.

Where we work

Proudly serving San Gabriel Valley, CA & nearby

  • San Dimas
  • Pomona
  • Covina
  • West Covina
  • Baldwin Park
  • El Monte
  • La Puente
  • Azusa
  • Glendora
  • La Verne
  • Duarte
  • Rosemead
  • Alhambra
  • Monrovia
  • Temple City
  • San Gabriel
  • Claremont
  • Arcadia
  • Diamond Bar
  • Walnut
  • Hacienda Heights
  • Rowland Heights
  • San Marino
  • Sierra Madre
  • Monterey Park
  • South El Monte
Call 626-654-3812