Start with something you can do at your kitchen table. Go to the California Department of Real Estate website and look up the buyer's real estate license. You need to see that the license is active and in good standing. A buyer who says they are a real estate agent or broker must have a current license. If they tell you they are a principal investor and not an agent, they might not need one. But it is still worth checking. You want to know who you are dealing with.

Next, check the California Secretary of State business filings. You can look up the company name online and see if the business is registered. You can see who the officers or owners are. If the business has changed names or is listed as suspended, that is a red flag. A real company should have a clear record. If the buyer says they are a limited liability company or a corporation, the filings should match what they told you.

Then go to the Sacramento County Recorder's Office website. You can search public deeds for properties the buyer has purchased before. Look at the grant deeds and the trustee deeds. If you see a pattern of buying and selling within days or weeks, that can tell you something about their intentions. You can also see if they have been involved in any disputes or lawsuits that show up in the property records.

Read reviews but treat them with caution. Positive reviews can be real. They can also be written by friends or paid for. Negative reviews might be from competitors or from people who did not understand the deal. Look for patterns. If several people mention the same problem, like slow payment or surprise fees, pay attention. Check more than one site. Also check a Sacramento cash home buyer the Better Business Bureau for complaints.

Look at the contract itself before you sign. Cash offers often come with a simple purchase agreement. Read every line. Look for clauses that say you have to pay for repairs or inspections before closing. Look for fees that come out of your proceeds that were not discussed. If the contract says you have to leave within a certain number of days, make sure you understand that timing. If something seems off, do not sign. You can ask a real estate lawyer or a HUD-approved housing counselor to look at it. It is worth the time.

Ask the buyer for proof of funds. A legitimate cash buyer can show a bank statement or a letter from their lender that says they have the money. If they hesitate or give excuses, that is a problem. You want to see that they can actually close the deal.

Take your time. You do not have to sign the first offer. You can ask questions. You can call the county assessor or the district attorney's consumer protection office if you have doubts. Your home is a large asset. A few hours of checking can save you from problems later.

There is a fuller write-up at check a Sacramento cash home buyer.