The Dual-Path Consultation™: Compare Your Cash Offer vs. Full Market Value
Not in a rush? Explore the traditional market route with our licensed partner, Debbi Rivero. See exactly what your home would sell for on the MLS so you can make a decision based on numbers, not pressure.
Fill In The Form To Get Started
We'll Call To Schedule An Appointment
Receive Your Dual-Path Market Analysis
We know that for some Maryland homeowners, maximizing the sale price on the open market is the top priority. That’s why, in addition to our Fair Offer Promise™, we’ve partnered with one of Maryland’s top real estate agents, Debbi Rivero with RE/MAX Advantage, to provide you with a complimentary, expert consultation. This is your chance to explore a truly hybrid real estate solution, get honest answers, and make the best choice for your family.
Ready for a fast, certain sale now? Learn about our Fast Cash Offer instead.
Page content by Justin Mitchell, Founder • Fact-checked by Debbi Rivero, Licensed MD REALTOR®
Reviewed: Dec 16, 2025 • Last updated: Dec 16, 2025
Is Listing on the Market Right for You?
A traditional market sale with a professional Realtor can be an excellent path if your personal goals and priorities align with the process. Let’s walk through the situations where listing your Maryland house often makes the most sense:
- Your Home is in Market-Ready Condition: If you’ve recently updated your home or it requires only minor cosmetic touch-ups, you’re in a great position to attract traditional buyers looking for a move-in ready property. This avoids the need to sell your house as-is.
- You Can Afford to Wait for the Highest Offer: The Maryland real estate market can be competitive. Listing your home allows you to potentially attract multiple offers and achieve a top-dollar sale price, but this process typically takes 60-90 days or more from listing to closing.
- You Aren’t Facing Urgent Financial Pressure: If you aren’t in a situation where you need to stop foreclosure in Maryland or require immediate cash for another pressing life event, the timeline of a traditional sale is often more manageable and financially rewarding.
- You Want to Reach the Largest Pool of Buyers: A licensed Realtor like Debbi Rivero has access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which exposes your property to thousands of qualified buyers and their agents—far more than you could reach on your own.
A Clear Comparison: Cash Offer vs. Realtor Listing in Maryland
To help you decide, here’s a straightforward look at the key differences between accepting a direct cash offer from us and listing your home with a Realtor. Keep in mind that some costs on the listing side, such as commissions, can be negotiable.
| Feature | Direct Cash Offer (from Us) | Traditional Realtor Listing |
|---|---|---|
| Sale Price | A fair price, minus repair costs. | Potentially highest market price. |
| Commissions & Fees | ZERO commissions. We pay all standard closing costs. | Agent commissions are negotiable but typically ~6% + seller closing costs. |
| Speed to Close | As fast as 7-14 days. | Typically 60-90+ days. |
| Repairs & Cleaning | None needed. Sell your house as-is. | Often requires repairs, staging & cleaning. |
| Showings & Open Houses | None. Just one quick walkthrough. | Multiple showings and open houses. |
| Certainty of Sale | Extremely high. We close on our offers. | Sale can fall through (financing, etc.). |
To ensure full transparency, our comparison is based on current market analysis:
• Timeline: According to recent industry data, there is an average of 74 days in Maryland from listing to close.
• Costs: Sellers who make repairs spend an average of $14,163 preparing their home for the market.
• Commissions: The average total commission rate in Maryland is approximately 5.55%.
• Risk: In the current market, as high as 15.3% of deals are canceled before closing.
Your Consultation with a Top Maryland Realtor: Debbi Rivero
`We believe in providing the best solutions, which means partnering with the best people. Our unique partnership with Debbi Rivero and her expert team at Rivero Realtors with RE/MAX Advantage are a force in the Maryland real estate community. With over three decades of full-time experience, Debbi offers a level of market insight and veteran leadership that is simply unmatched.
Her elite credentials
As a Master Agent (License #320362) with RE/MAX Advantage, and holding certifications like ABR® (Accredited Buyer’s Representative) and CPE (Certified Probate Expert), make her and her team uniquely qualified to handle even the most complex property sales.
Debbi can provide you with:
A professional Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to estimate your home's potential sale price.
Understand Your Home’s True Market Value: Receive a data-driven Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) that goes beyond simple estimates. Debbi will analyze the current Maryland real estate market, comparing your property to recently sold homes in your area to reveal its true potential sale price. This clarity is the essential first step to making a smart financial decision.
An honest, expert assessment of what preparations your home might need to be listed.
Get a Strategic Repair & Preparation Plan: Feeling overwhelmed by house repairs? Debbi’s expert eye will identify which updates will actually increase your home’s value (and which to ignore), saving you time and thousands in wasted expenses. This is the professional guidance you need, whether you’re selling a house in poor condition or just want to maximize your return.
A no-obligation consultation that is purely informational, designed to empower your decision.`
Gain Total Clarity with Zero Pressure: This is your private, no-obligation strategy session. There are no sales pitches and no strings attached. The entire conversation is focused on one thing: providing you with the honest information you need to confidently decide on the best path forward for your family, on your timeline.
How the Dual-Path Consultation™ Works
This free, no-obligation Dual-Path™ review is available to homeowners throughout our entire Maryland service area. While we proudly serve all 23 counties of Maryland, we have deep, on-the-ground expertise in our primary markets, including Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Frederick County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County.
1. Fill Out the Form Below:
Provide some basic information about your property. The form is quick, secure, and everything you share is confidential.
2. A Quick Call from Justin (Me!):
I will personally give you a brief, friendly call first. As the founder of Maryland Cash Home Buyers and a real estate professional with years of experience helping homeowners across the state, my only goal on this initial call is to listen. We’ll confirm your information, understand your situation a little better, and answer any initial questions you might have before I connect you with Debbi.
3. Your Expert Realtor Consultation:
I will then coordinate with you to schedule a convenient time to speak directly with Debbi Rivero. She will provide you with the professional market analysis and expert insights you need to make a confident decision.
Real Maryland Homeowners, Real Solutions
We’re proud of the trust we’ve earned from homeowners across Maryland. But don’t just take our word for it. Here are a few words from recent clients who faced their own unique challenges, followed by real-world (anonymized) examples of how our two distinct paths lead to successful outcomes.
See The Dual-Path Solution™ in Action: Real Case Studies
The Accelerated Exit Program™: Certainty in Anne Arundel County
The Problem: A son living in Florida inherited his mother’s home in Glen Burnie. The property needed significant updates he didn’t have the budget for, and he couldn’t manage a long-distance renovation and sale while grieving and working full-time. His main goal was a simple, stress-free solution that would allow him to settle the estate.
The Solution: After a single, respectful visit to the property, we provided a fair cash offer that reflected its “as-is” condition. We assured him he wouldn’t need to clean out the house, make any repairs, or pay any fees. All paperwork was handled electronically for his convenience.
The Outcome: We closed the sale in just 14 days using our Accelerated Exit Program™. He was able to completely avoid the financial and emotional burden of repairs and realtor showings. The fast, certain sale gave him the peace of mind and closure he needed to move forward.
The Market Listing: Maximizing Value in Howard County
The Problem: A couple in Columbia was ready to downsize, but they were not in a rush to move. Their home was in good shape, and their top priority was getting the absolute highest sale price possible to fund their retirement travels. They were unsure what, if any, pre-sale improvements were worth the investment.
The Solution: They requested a Dual-Path Consultation™. Debbi Rivero met with them and provided a detailed market analysis. She identified that a simple, professional paint job in the main living areas and some minor landscaping could yield a significant return. They took her expert advice, and she listed the property with stunning professional photos.
The Outcome: The home looked so impressive that it received multiple offers in the first weekend. It ultimately sold for $20,000 more than their initial expectation. The consultation gave them a clear, strategic path to achieving their financial goals without guesswork.
Ready to Find Your Best Path Forward?
Take the first step towards clarity. There’s no cost and no obligation. Fill out the simple form below to request your free, expert Realtor consultation and get the answers you deserve. Your information is 100% confidential.
Realized a Fast, As-Is Sale is a Better Fit?
If this process has helped you realize that the speed, convenience, and certainty of a direct cash sale is what you truly need, we’re here for that too.
Expert Reviewed for Accuracy
To ensure you receive the most accurate and ethical guidance, the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by Debbi Rivero, a RE/MAX Master Agent with over 30 years of experience in the Maryland real estate market.
This is our commitment to providing you with trustworthy information so you can make a confident and informed decision.
Your Questions Answered: Making a Confident Choice
We understand that choosing how to sell your Maryland home is a major decision, and you rightfully have questions. Our goal isn’t to push you toward one option, but to provide clear, honest answers so you can feel confident in the path you choose. Here are some of the most common questions we hear from homeowners just like you.
Are cash home buyers in Maryland legitimate? How is your Dual-Path service different?
Yes—many cash home buyers in Maryland are legitimate, but the difference is verification and transparency. Our Dual-Path Solution™ is a Hybrid Real Estate model that lets you compare a fast cash offer with a Market Value Analysis for a traditional listing. This process is under the Licensed Oversight of Debbi Rivero (Licensed Maryland REALTOR® #320362), so you can make a data-driven decision.
What are the red flags for cash buyers?
Yes—there are clear red flags: pressure to sign immediately, unclear fees, refusing a reputable title/settlement process, no proof of funds, or last-minute price changes. A trustworthy buyer explains the offer math, gives you time to review paperwork, and closes through a standard Maryland settlement process.
Is selling your house for cash a good idea?
It depends—cash is a great idea if your priorities are speed, certainty, and selling as-is. If your home is retail-ready and you can wait, a traditional listing may achieve a higher price, but it usually requires preparation, showings, and buyer financing. The Dual-Path Consultation™ is designed to compare both outcomes side-by-side before you commit.
What’s the real difference in cost between a cash offer and a Realtor listing?
It depends, but the biggest difference is what you pay in agent costs, repairs, and time versus the certainty of a cash close. With a traditional listing, sellers often pay negotiable agent compensation and typical closing expenses, and they may invest in repairs or staging. With a direct cash offer, there are no listing commissions, and the goal is a simpler as-is sale—so you can compare net proceeds side by side.
How much less do cash buyers typically pay compared to listing?
It depends—cash offers can be lower than a top-dollar retail sale because the buyer takes on repairs, holding costs, and resale risk. The fairest comparison is your net proceeds: subtract repairs, listing-related costs, typical closing expenses, and the cost of time (mortgage, taxes, utilities) from a realistic listing outcome, then compare that number to a cash offer with a fast, certain closing.
How fast can a house be sold for cash in Maryland?
It depends on title work and your availability, but a cash sale can often close faster than a financed sale. Many cash transactions can close in the 7–21 day range when title is clear, because you avoid lender underwriting, appraisal delays, and financing fall-through risk.
Can I negotiate a cash offer or the listing plan?
Yes—negotiation is normal, especially when you can share repair estimates, appraisals, or comparable sales data. We prefer negotiating based on the line items in the evaluation (condition, repairs, and timeline) so the numbers reflect reality instead of guesswork.
I have a difficult situation (probate, foreclosure, major repairs). Can a Realtor still help me?
Yes, but it depends on your timeline and the property’s condition. In many complex situations, a direct cash offer can be the fastest route because it avoids repair demands and buyer financing. A licensed Realtor can also be valuable when a Market Value Analysis suggests that targeted improvements could increase your net return, so we present the pros and cons of both paths.
What if I get a cash offer but then decide I want to list instead?
Yes—you can choose either path, and the consultation is no-obligation. If the Market Value Analysis shows that listing better matches your goals, we support that decision and connect you with Debbi Rivero (Licensed Maryland REALTOR® #320362) for the listing strategy.
Have more general questions about selling a house in Maryland or how our process works? Visit our comprehensive FAQ page for more answers.