Memphis TN Cash Home Buyers for Houses With Liens or Title Problems, 5 Local Options

A title search can turn up things a homeowner forgot about or never knew. There might be an old contractor's lien, a second mortgage from years back, a few years of unpaid property taxes or a parent's name still on the deed. None of these has to stop a sale. The right cash buyer works with a title company to sort them out and pays off what's owed at closing. These five Memphis buyers take houses with title problems, and BluDoor is the one to call first.

How These Companies Were Evaluated

A messy title calls for a buyer with a real closing team, so we gave credit to companies that name the professionals who handle their title work. We also checked BBB grades and accreditation years, owners' names, Memphis addresses and published terms on fees. Third-party Google figures come from Clever unless an entry says otherwise. When a claim appears only on a company's website, we point that out.

Five Local Buyers for Homes With Title Issues

1. BluDoor

BluDoor works with a closing attorney and a title company, and they take care of the contract and the title work. That help matters when a search turns up a lien, a tax bill or an heir who still needs to sign. You don't have to sort it out alone. Founded in Memphis in 2019 by Rashid Algaradi, BluDoor holds an A+ at the BBB and has been accredited there since 2020. Its Google profile shows 4.9 stars from 106 reviews.

The steps are the same as any BluDoor sale. One walkthrough comes first, then a written, no-obligation offer within a day. On its homepage, BluDoor commits that the offer made at the start is the amount you'll be paid at closing. Pamela Martin, who sold two family properties to BluDoor, wrote that "Kelton was always available when we had questions, explained everything thoroughly." James Raizada sold his parents' inherited home and wrote that it closed in 18 days.

Pros

• Closing attorney and title company handle the paperwork
• Buys inherited houses, per its homepage
• Published promise on the offer amount
• No commission or closing costs taken from the seller

Good to Know

• BluDoor's blog explains selling a Tennessee house with back taxes.
• Liens are usually paid from the sale money at closing.
• Its FAQ lets you walk away at any point without fees.

2. Memphis Cash Home Buyers

The Ligon brothers, Michael and David, say they close at a reputable local title company. Their office is on Players Club Circle. The site also offers subject-to sales and mortgage takeovers, which some owners with heavy loan balances look into.

Pros

• Uses a local title company, per its site
• Options beyond a straight sale

Cons

• No BBB profile found
• Closing costs not addressed
• Timeline claims vary across its pages

3. Spencer Buys Houses

Spencer Buys Houses closes at a local title company, according to its site, and covers typical closing costs. Its owner is Spencer Shadrach, and the BBB record shows an A+ and a start in 2016. Clever lists a 4.9 Google rating from 115 reviews.

Pros

• Title company closings, per its site
• Long operating history

Cons

• One BBB address is a private mailbox
• BBB accreditation only since 2025

4. buyerhouse

buyerhouse says it pays all closing costs, which can include title charges on a complicated file. Jamison and Joy Hendricks co-own the company from Kirby Parkway. BBB lists an A+ with accreditation since 2022.

Pros

• All closing costs covered, per its site
• Local office and named owners

Cons

• No mention of title issues in its terms
• Founding date conflict with BBB

5. Pyramid Properties

Pyramid Properties buys homes in any condition, per its site, and says there are no commissions or fees. Owner Alan Wright's company carries an A+ from BBB, accredited since 2025. Clever shows a 5.0 rating from 115 Google reviews.

Pros

• Strong Google rating
• Flexible closing dates

Cons

• Silent on who pays closing costs
• No street address on its site

How a Title Company Clears Liens at Closing

Once you accept an offer, the title company searches the public record for anything attached to the house. It lists each loan, lien and unpaid tax, then requests a payoff figure for every one. On closing day, the buyer's money arrives and the title company pays those debts first. Whatever is left goes to you.

Sometimes the search turns up a problem that payment alone won't fix, like a lien that was paid but never released or a name on the deed that shouldn't be there. A closing attorney works through those before the sale is final. That's why you don't need cash on hand to clear a lien first.

Common Title Problems in Memphis

Problem	What usually happens
Mortgage or second mortgage	Paid off from the sale proceeds at closing
Judgment or contractor lien	Payoff requested and paid at closing
Back property taxes	Paid at closing, unless a tax sale has already been confirmed
Inherited house	The estate's representative needs authority to sign

Shelby County tax sales run online through the Chancery Court Clerk and Master, and a sale isn't complete until a chancellor signs an order confirming it. Even after that, Tennessee law gives owners a window to redeem. It runs one year when taxes were five years delinquent or less, and shorter for older or abandoned properties, with 12 percent yearly interest.

Common Mistakes With Liens and Title Problems

The biggest mistake is assuming a lien means you can't sell. Most liens are simply paid from the money the sale brings in, and you never write a check for them yourself. Another is waiting on probate questions until after an offer is signed. Talk with an attorney about who can sign for an estate early on.

Owners also forget old paperwork. If you paid off a lien years ago, dig out the release, or call the company you paid and ask for a copy. One page can save a week. Finally, don't let a tax sale notice sit unopened. The redemption clock starts with the confirmation order, and a deadline you never saw is still a deadline.

Who Benefits Most From a Cash Buyer

Heirs settling an estate gain the most. Owners behind on property taxes come next, along with anyone who has an old judgment or a contractor's lien on the house. A buyer that works with a closing attorney can take on a file that a typical financed buyer would walk away from. Banks won't lend on a house with a clouded title. Cash buyers can wait while the title gets cleaned up, which is why so many of these sales end with one.

Questions About Selling With Title Problems

Can I sell a Memphis house with a lien on it?

Yes. The title company pays the lien from the sale money at closing, and the rest of the proceeds go to you once every payoff is settled.

Does BluDoor buy inherited houses?

Yes. Its homepage names inherited houses with bills piling up among the homes it buys, and its blog has a post on selling a Tennessee house with back taxes.

How long does it take to clear a title problem?

It depends on the problem. A simple payoff can be done in days. A missing signature or an open estate can take longer. Ask the title company for a rough timeline once the search is back.

What if the house is still in a parent's name?

The estate's representative usually needs legal authority to sell. A probate attorney can explain the steps.

The Bottom Line

Title trouble sounds scary until you see how often it's handled at a normal closing. BluDoor is the clear choice for Memphis owners with liens or title problems, since it brings a closing attorney and title company to the table and puts its offer promise in writing.