Unpermitted additions, an illegal conversion, open citations, accumulating daily fines. Code problems are one of the most reliable ways for a conventional sale to fall apart, because the buyer's lender wants the county record and the property to agree. We buy properties with open violations and unpermitted work, and we do not require you to resolve them first.
These are the practical obstacles that make a conventional sale hard here.
Many jurisdictions add penalties for every day a violation stands, so the cost of doing nothing grows steadily while you decide.
Where permits do not match what exists, appraisals and underwriting frequently stall — removing most of your buyer pool.
Legalising existing work can mean opening walls, engineering reports and rework, with no guarantee the result is approved.
An appraiser can exclude unpermitted square footage entirely, so the value you believe you have may not appear in a valuation.
Unpaid code fines can become liens, which surface in title and have to be dealt with at closing.
Unresolved cases can progress to abatement or receivership, which brings deadlines set by someone else.
| Sell to Us (Cash) | List With an Agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Corrective work before sale | None | Usually required for a financed buyer |
| Retroactive permits | Not required | Often necessary, slow and uncertain |
| Open citations | Workable | Typically must be cleared |
| Accruing fines | Stop at closing | Continue through the listing |
| Agent commission | $0 | 5–6% of the sale price |
| Timeline | 7–21 days | Months, after resolution |
| Gross price | Below retail | Higher once fully compliant |
If the violation is minor and cheap to clear — a permit closed out, debris removed, a fence height corrected — clear it and list the house normally. You will do better. The case for selling as-is is about violations that are expensive, structural, or that a lender will not overlook.
Unpermitted additions and conversions, illegal units, non-conforming electrical and plumbing, overgrowth and debris notices, junk vehicle citations, substandard housing notices. Tell us what you are dealing with.
Where fines have attached to the property, they normally show up in the title search and are settled out of proceeds at closing rather than paid by you beforehand. Title and escrow will confirm the treatment for your case.
Yes, and it is in your interest to. Known code issues are material and are disclosable in a California sale. Telling us up front also means the offer reflects reality and does not need revising later.
Generally yes. That is one of the most common reasons a financed sale falls through and one of the more common reasons owners come to us.
Tell us immediately — it affects how and how quickly a purchase can be structured. It is also a point at which you should get your own attorney involved, because enforcement proceedings can carry consequences beyond the property itself.
This page explains how selling a property for cash works. It is not legal, tax or financial advice, and it is not a substitute for advice about your own situation. For anything touching probate, tenancies, foreclosure timelines, divorce settlements, code enforcement or the tax consequences of a sale, please speak to a qualified attorney or CPA. My California Home Solution is a property-buying company, not a brokerage — when we make an offer we are the buyer, not your agent. Richard Farmer is a licensed California real estate broker (DRE #01229897) affiliated with Ktesius Realty Corporation (DRE #01842107), so brokerage services are available separately if listing suits you better.
No obligation, and no pressure. If listing is the better move for you, we will say so.