Inherited a house
A parent's home full of decades of belongings, often with siblings in three different states. We buy it as it sits, contents included.
Local buyers — not a national call center
Sell your house as-is. Cash, on your timeline.
Cornerstone Realty buys houses, condos, and townhouses across greater Chicagoland and Northern Illinois in whatever condition they're in. Don't repair anything. Don't clean anything out. We handle all of it.
- Good condition or bad — we buy both, and we don't ask for repairs
- Leave behind anything you don't want — furniture, junk, all of it
- Close fast, or pick a date months out — it's your call
- No agent commissions, no listing, no strangers walking through
Get your cash offer
Tell us where the house is. We'll call you back and give you a real number — no obligation, no pressure.
Got it — thank you.
We'll review the property and call you back, usually the same day. If you'd rather talk right now, call (847) 338-7800.
No fees, ever
No commissions, no listing costs, no repair credits taken out of your price.
Any condition
Fire damage, water damage, hoarder houses, deferred maintenance — all fine.
You pick the date
Close quickly if you need to, or take a few months. We work around your move.
Leave the cleanout
Take what you want and walk away. Everything left behind becomes our problem.
How it works
Three steps, and none of them involve a contractor
Selling to us is deliberately boring. There's no listing, no staging, no open houses, and no financing that falls apart two weeks before closing.
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Tell us about the house
Fill out the form or call us. We'll ask a few basic questions — address, rough condition, what your situation looks like. It takes about five minutes.
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We look and make an offer
Usually one short walkthrough, and often we can work from photos. Then you get a straightforward cash number with no repair conditions attached to it. No obligation to take it.
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You choose the closing date
We close at a local title company. Need to be out next week? Need to stay through the school year? Either works. You get paid at closing.
What we buy
Houses people have written off
We buy single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and small multi-units throughout greater Chicagoland and Northern Illinois. Most of the sellers we work with are in one of these situations.
Major repairs needed
Bad roof, failing furnace, foundation cracks, fire or water damage, knob-and-tube wiring. We price it in and buy anyway.
Need to move fast
A job transfer, a divorce, a health change, or a closing date on the next house that won't move. We can match a tight timeline.
Tired of being a landlord
Difficult tenants, unpaid rent, endless calls at 11pm. We buy occupied rentals and deal with the tenancy ourselves.
Behind on payments or taxes
Missed mortgage payments, delinquent property taxes, or a pending foreclosure date. Call early — options shrink as the date gets closer.
It didn't sell on the market
Listed for months, buyers backed out after inspection, appraisals came in low. A cash buyer removes all three problems.
Honest comparison
Selling to us vs. listing with an agent
| Cornerstone Realty | Listing with an agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Commissions & fees | None | Typically 5–6% of the sale price, plus seller costs |
| Repairs before selling | None — we buy as-is | Usually expected, plus repair credits after inspection |
| Cleaning out the house | Leave whatever you want | Fully cleaned and often staged |
| Showings | One walkthrough | Open houses and showings on the buyer's schedule |
| Financing risk | Cash — no lender, no appraisal contingency | Deals can collapse late over financing or appraisal |
| Closing date | You choose it | Dictated by the buyer and their lender |
Service area
Greater Chicagoland & Northern Illinois
Chicago suburbs, the surrounding collar counties, and the smaller communities across Northern Illinois. Not sure whether your address is in range? Call and ask — we'll tell you straight away, and it takes about a minute.
Questions
What sellers usually ask us first
Do I really not have to clean the house out?
Correct. Take the things you care about — photos, documents, furniture you want — and leave the rest exactly where it is. Clearing out the remaining contents is part of what we handle, and it's already reflected in our offer.
What kind of condition is too bad?
We haven't found it yet. Roof failures, flooded basements, mold, fire damage, foundation movement, years of deferred maintenance, houses packed floor to ceiling. Condition changes the number, not whether we're interested.
How fast can this close?
Because there's no lender involved, the timeline is mostly limited by title work. Fast closings are possible when you need one. Just as often sellers want the opposite — more time to find their next place — and that's fine too. You set the date.
Do I pay anything, or owe you if I say no?
Nothing. There's no fee for the offer and no obligation attached to it. If the number doesn't work for you, say no and that's the end of it.
Will you buy a condo or a rental with tenants in it?
Yes to both. We buy condos and townhomes, including units with assessment or special assessment issues, and we buy occupied rentals. You don't need to remove a tenant before selling to us.
What happens after I fill out the form?
A person from Cornerstone calls you — not an automated system, and your information doesn't get sold to a list of other buyers. We ask about the house, set up a walkthrough if we need one, and then give you a number.
Find out what your house is worth to us
One conversation, a straight number, and no obligation. Whether you sell this month or decide not to sell at all, you'll know where you stand.