Sell your house for cash in Tennessee

How to sell a house for cash in Tennessee, step by step

1. Get your numbers first. Call your lender for a payoff statement and check your county tax bill. Run a quick estimate with our cash offer calculator so you know what a fair offer looks like.
2. Request several offers. One offer tells you nothing. Get at least two, from local investors, iBuyers that serve your area, or Cash Offer Desk where we buy, and check each one with the calculator.
3. Compare more than price. Look at the closing date, who pays closing costs and the transfer tax, the inspection period, earnest money, and whether the buyer will assign the contract.
4. Close with a professional. Title companies handle most Tennessee closings. Attorneys are optional.
5. Get paid at closing. Your mortgage and any liens are paid from the sale proceeds, and the rest is wired to you or paid by check.

Wholesalers in Tennessee

Yes. SB 909 (Public Chapter 72), signed March 25, 2025, requires wholesalers to disclose in writing to the seller and later buyers that they intend to assign or sell their equitable interest and do not hold title.

Wherever you live, ask every buyer one question: “Are you buying this house yourself, or will you assign the contract?” A wholesaler can still be a fine option if they are upfront about it. Read our guide to wholesaling for sellers before you sign.

Closing costs and taxes

Tennessee's transfer tax is $0.37 per $100 of price or value, whichever is greater (0.37%). By statute the buyer pays it (T.C.A. 67-4-409).

Many cash buyers offer to pay closing costs. Get that in the contract, and ask which costs it covers. Capital gains rules are federal and state; a tax professional can tell you what you will owe.

Do you have to disclose problems?

The Tennessee Residential Property Disclosure Act (T.C.A. 66-5-201 and following) requires a disclosure statement, or in some cases a disclaimer when the buyer waives it. Some transfers, such as by fiduciaries in estate administration and foreclosures, are exempt.

If you are behind on payments

Most Tennessee foreclosures are non-judicial trustee sales and can move fairly quickly. A statutory redemption right exists but is usually waived in the deed of trust.

Selling before a foreclosure sale can protect your equity and your credit, but watch for foreclosure rescue scams. Never sign your deed over to anyone outside of a formal closing. A free HUD-approved housing counselor can walk you through every option. More in our foreclosure guide.