All-Cash Home Sales on the Rise

Cash buyers are becoming more common in many U.S. real estate markets, even as the housing market begins to cool.

1 minute read

February 13, 2023, 6:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Cash Buyout

Jam1 Productions / Shutterstock

In 2022, almost one third of U.S. home purchases were made in cash, up 8 percent from the year before. This according to an article in The Washington Post by Emmanuel Martinez, Kevin Schaul, and Hamza Shaban.

As the article explains, “The rise of all-cash buys comes at a time when the average home buyer is increasingly likely to be White, wealthy and older and the proportion of first-time buyers is at its lowest in more than 40 years.”

According to Ali Wolf, chief economist at Zonda quoted in the article, “What we found was those that already were more well-off were able to take advantage of the strong housing market and add to their wealth, while those trying to better their situation were often pushed to the side.”

The trend varies place to place, with South Florida consistently seeing a higher rate of cash purchases. In Nassau County, New York, 52 percent of home sales in 2022 were made in cash, a 104 percent rise over the previous year. Frederick County, Maryland, saw a 122 percent growth in cash sales.

Thursday, February 9, 2023 in The Washington Post

courses user

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges. Corey D, Transportation Planner

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges.

Corey D, Transportation Planner

Ready to give your planning career a boost?

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

Seattle Legalizes Co-Living

A new state law requires all Washington cities to allow co-living facilities in areas zoned for multifamily housing.

December 1, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

SunRail passenger train at platform in Poinciana, Florida.

Central Florida’s SunRail Plans Major Expansion

The expanded train line will connect more destinations to the international airport and other important destinations.

November 24, 2024 - Hoodline

Times Square in New York City empty during the Covid-19 pandemic.

NYC Officials Announce Broadway Pedestrianization Project

Two blocks of the marquee street will become mostly car-free public spaces.

December 1, 2024 - StreetsBlog NYC

Vacant pedestrian overpass and skyscrapers in downtown financial district at night.

Office Conversion Sees No Sign of Slowing

The adaptive reuse of office buildings for residential and other uses will grow by as much as 63 percent in 2024 over last year.

15 seconds ago - Smart Cities Dive

White waste management sanitation garbage truck and worker pushing wheeled green dumpster on street with piles of trash bags.

Parked Cars Hamper NYC Trash Containerization Effort

Sanitation workers must manually collect bags from containers blocked by parked cars, slowing a process that is meant to be safer and more efficient.

1 hour ago - StreetsBlog NYC

Close-up of laptop with real estate listings shown on map.

Cities and States Taking Action to Limit Rent-Setting AI

Federal prosecutors are charging a software company with using algorithms to artificially inflate rents.

December 2 - CALmatters

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.