Mark Spain Real Estate was founded in 2016 and currently operates in six Southern states in the U.S. The company offers both traditional listing services and a Guaranteed Offer cash-buying program.
Customer reviews highlight the experience and full-service support the Mark Spain brokerage team provides throughout the process, which includes extensive marketing and pricing strategy efforts.
The company charges an industry-standard commission of 2.5-3%, which you would have to pay even if you sell your property through the Guaranteed Offer program.
As an alternative, you can look into low-commission real estate agents or companies that buy houses for cash without charging additional realtors’ commissions.
Clever Real Estate pre-negotiates a 1.5% listing commission with top agents in your area, who’ll provide the full suite of services for selling your house. Or you can explore Clever Offers, a cash buyer network that helps you find investors buying homes for cash in your area, and gives you tools like 7 Day Sold to maximize your cash offers.
Mark Spain Real Estate summary
- Overall rating of 4.7/5, based on 4,000+ Google, Yelp, and Better Business Bureau reviews.
- Pros: Quick selling time, possibility to sell for cash or list on the market, professional agents.
- Cons: Limited coverage, issues with cash offers.
- Founded in 2016.
- Operates in 16 metro areas across FL, GA, NC, SC, TN, and TX.
Who Mark Spain Real Estate works best for
Mark Spain Real Estate can be a solid option to consider if you’re located in one of its service areas. The company’s agents are knowledgeable and professional, and they charge standard commission for their services.
Homeowners who want to sell their home for cash quickly can take a look at Mark Spain’s Guaranteed Offer services. If your home qualifies, you can receive a cash offer and close in as little as 21 days. However, as with other cash offer programs, keep in mind that you will receive an offer significantly lower than your home's average market price. The Mark Spain Guaranteed Offer process will not work for those who want to sell for cash nearer to or above the property’s true value, nor will they work with homeowners outside the markets in which they operate.
Want to sell your home quickly for cash and receive a fair price? Check out Clever Offers, where you can choose an option that will match your needs.
Mark Spain Real Estate reviews: What customers are saying
| Source | Customer rating |
|---|---|
| Better Business Bureau* | 4.3/5 (300+ reviews) |
| Google* | 4.8/5 (3,600+ reviews) |
| Yelp | 2.8/5 (<150 reviews) |
| Weighted average | 4.7/5 (4,000+ reviews) |
| * Google and Better Business Bureau reviews are collected across multiple locations and company pages. | |
Mark Spain Real Estate has mostly positive reviews, with a weighted average of 4.7 out of 5.0 across more than 4,000 ratings. Sellers comment on the high quality of the company’s agents, the guidance they receive throughout the sale, and the overall quick process.
Although the company promotes its Guaranteed Offer service, many satisfied customers say they went the more traditional route by working with an agent. For some, their house wouldn’t qualify for the Guaranteed Offer process, while for others, an agent recommended listing on the market instead.
Cash offers received less positive feedback from some sellers, with mentions of hidden fees, low prices, and ambiguous terms.
Positive experiences
“Sold our house for full asking price within about 2 weeks”
Mark Spain has many positive reviews from satisfied sellers who worked with the company’s realtors. Customers praise the speed of sales and the ability to receive the full asking price for a house, thanks to the real estate agent’s efforts.
“A passion for what she does and a deep knowledge of the market”
Many sellers were satisfied with their realtor’s professionalism, knowledge, and attitude towards clients. Multiple reviews call out Mark Spain’s agents by name and thank them for their excellent service.
Negative experiences
“Put no effort into actually selling homes”
Insufficient seller support is one theme noticeable throughout Mark Spain's negative reviews. While the percentage of unsatisfied customers is small, it’s still worth doing some research into the specific agent you might be working with beforehand.
“No guarantee in their Guaranteed Offer”
Some critical reviews mention unexpectedly low offers (both cash offers and when listing on the market with a Mark Spain’s agent). A few customers noted that the cash offer was lowered after the initial offering.
Mark Spain Real Estate: Pros and cons
Pros
- Quick selling time (as low as 21 days)
- Professional and knowledgeable agents
- Multiple selling options
Cons
- Cash offers are often lower than expected
- Limited service area
- Not all homes are eligible for cash offers
The company offering multiple ways to sell a home is one of its main advantages.
With Mark Spain Real Estate’s Guaranteed Offer program, you can sell your home in as little as 21 days. This cash offer service was created for those who prioritize convenience and speed over maximum profit. A second option would be to list with a realtor, paying a standard commission of 2.5-3%.
The main drawbacks of working with Mark Spain include limited coverage (available only in 16 metro areas across six states) and potential issues with the Guaranteed Offer service. For example, not all homes are eligible for Guaranteed Offers, and many reviewers mention lower-than-expected offers or price decreases after receiving an initial offer.
Low-commission alternatives to Mark Spain Real Estate
| Company | Listing fee | Avg. customer rating |
|---|---|---|
| Clever | 1.5% | 5/5 (3,000+ reviews) |
| Redfin | 1.5% (min. fee varies by market) | 4.8/5 (156,000+ reviews) |
| Ideal Agent | 2% | 4.9/5 (7,000+ reviews) |
| UpNest | 2.2% (on average) | 4.6/5 (8,000+ reviews) |
If you want to work with a Mark Spain Real Estate agent to sell your home, be sure to also look into discount brokers. Companies like Clever and Redfin work with professional realtors who charge 1.5% in fees as opposed to the standard 2.5-3%. This discount is possible because low-commission realtors are experienced and efficient, so you receive the same level of service for a significantly lower price.
If you’re interested in Mark Spain’s Guaranteed Offer program, there are also alternatives to consider. For example, with Clever Offers, you can get multiple cash offers from different local investors, choosing the offer that maximizes your profit and works best with your closing timeline.
How Mark Spain Real Estate works
The main service Mark Spain offers to sellers is its Guaranteed Offer program — an option to receive a cash offer for a home and close in as little as 21 days. You can also choose to work with one of the company’s listing agents to sell your house on the market.
Here’s what a typical process of selling with Mark Spain Real Estate looks like:
- Initial contact: Sellers submit an online request or call their nearest office.
- Home evaluation: An agent will reach out to schedule a visit for a property walk-through.
- Guaranteed Offer or open-market listing: Upon discussion with an agent, the seller receives a cash offer (sometimes the home may qualify for multiple offers) or a recommendation to go the more traditional route with an agent.
- Offer review and acceptance: The seller can accept the cash offer, negotiate it, or choose a traditional listing.
- Closing process: If a seller accepts the cash offer, they go through final paperwork and closing, typically within 21 days. A traditional listing would follow a standard timeline.
Note: If you decide to work with a Mark Spain listing agent, you’re likely to receive nearer the full market price for the home and get assistance with tasks such as marketing, pricing strategy, and placing your listing on real estate websites like Zillow and Trulia.
Homes that qualify for the Guaranteed Offer program
Not all sellers can receive a cash offer when selling their place with Mark Spain Real Estate. Here are some requirements the property should meet:
- Single-family home
- Built after 1950
- Located in the Mark Spain Real Estate service area
- Valued between $50,000 and $1.5M
- Owner-occupied or vacant
- Not distressed
- Not bank-owned
- Not located in or near flood zones
- Without significant foundation issues
Mark Spain Real Estate: The bottom line
Mark Spain Real Estate operates a legitimate service with experienced agents and multiple selling options. The company’s offerings can be decent choices for homeowners looking to prioritize a quick and easy process over maximizing the sale price.
The traditional listing service seems to be the company’s strong suit, with many past clients praising its agents. The Guaranteed Offer service pays less than the property’s market value (which is typical for cash buyers) while still charging a full real estate agent commission on top, which decreases the seller’s profit even further.
Sellers who are seeking the best combination of service and value should explore low-commission brokerages, such as Clever Real Estate, which offers pre-negotiated discounts on licensed agents while still providing a full-service experience. Take this quick quiz to get started!