Being a landlord in the Bay Area used to feel like printing money. In 2026, it increasingly feels like a second job most people want out of. Rent control, just-cause eviction laws, 60-day notices for long-term tenants, Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) in some cities, and sky-high holding costs have thousands of accidental landlords asking the same question:

“How the hell do I sell my rental without evicting my tenants or losing my shirt?”

The answer: Sell it to a cash buyer who buys tenant-occupied properties as-is. At Twin Home Buyer, we’ve been doing exactly that for years in Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, and Antioch. We close in 7–30 days, tenants stay (or we handle relocation if you prefer), and you walk away with cash—no repairs, no showings, no drama.

Option 1: Sell With Tenants in Place (Our Favorite)

We buy the property subject to the existing lease. Tenants stay, rent keeps getting paid (to us), and you’re out clean. Works perfectly for:

Rent-controlled units in SF or Oakland
Section 8 tenants
Long-term tenants you actually like
Properties where eviction would take 6–18 months anyway

Option 2: Cash-for-Keys Handled by Us

If you (or we) want the property vacant, we’ll negotiate cash-for-keys with the tenants after closing. You don’t deal with the headache or the liability—we do.

Why Traditional Sales Are a Nightmare for Tenant-Occupied Properties

Tenants can (and often do) sabotage showings
Most buyers want vacant properties
Agents hate tenant-occupied listings (low cooperation = low commission chance)
TOPA (in SF) gives tenants first right of refusal—kills most deals
2026 market: Rates around 6%, more inventory—buyers are picky and want turnkey

Real estate discussion with landlord and tenants

Step-by-Step: How We Buy Your Tenant-Occupied Rental

Send us basic info (address, rent roll, lease end dates)
We review lease(s) and run numbers—offer in 24–48 hours
You pick closing date (as fast as 7 days)
We close at a local title company, tenants never miss a beat
You get cash, we handle everything else

Real deal from last month: Oakland duplex in Deep East with two long-term tenants (one rent-controlled at $987/mo). Landlord was done. We closed in 12 days, tenants stayed, landlord netted full cash offer with zero vacancy or repair costs.

Cities & Tenant Laws We Handle Daily

San Francisco – Rent control + TOPA + relocation fees
Oakland – Rent control + strict just-cause
San Jose – Tenant Protection Act + relocation assistance
Antioch, Richmond, Hayward – Standard CA tenant rights (still a pain for sellers)

What Our Clients Say

⭐ Trusted by Homeowners Everywhere

We’re proud that 92% of our customers rate their experience with us as excellent.

Rafael P.

★★★★★

Stress free process, paid all the closing costs and didn’t have to do any cleaning or repairs. Juan Diaz and team are men of their word. Very professional and respectful. The escrow process was a piece of cake. The best part is they close faster than any realtor listing the house ever could. If you’re looking for a no hassle way to sell your house quickly then I definitely recommend Twin home buyer and team.

Robert R.

★★★★★

I can’t speak highly enough about Juan Diaz and his team at Twin Home Buyer. I'm truly honored to be able to work with them and learn from them. Their professionalism, knowledge, honesty, integrity, and hard work ethics are very much admired and respected. They are highly experienced, detail oriented, honest, and truly care about their clients' needs. They deliver on their promises and go above and beyond to get the job done. I look forward to continuing to work with them. I recommend them 100%!

Edgar R.

★★★★★

Called Twin Home Buyer with questions about my property. They listened, offered honest advice, and followed up just like they said they would. Super kind and no pressure. I haven’t sold yet, but I’d definitely recommend giving them a call. Great people!

Jose J.

★★★★★

The twin home buyer was awesome to deal with although they did not buy my house. They recommended me over to an amazing realtor that was able to get top dollar for my property. They let me know upfront that it was not the right match that they could not help me, but it didn’t stop there this company generally cares

Gabriela G.

★★★★★

I've had the opportunity to work with Twin Home Buyer on a few occasions. And everytime has been a great experience. They do excellent work! Juan Diaz is Honest, trustworthy and very easy to work with. I always recommend him to my clients when they want a cash, quick close. I look forward to keep working with them in the future.

Tewfik H

★★★★★

I met with Juan Diaz on Saturday April 2nd and after showing him my property we sat down and discussed price. We finally agreed on a price that was not far off my asking. I felt strongly that Juan was genuine. He sent me a sale and purchase agreement that afternoon. I reviewed and had an advisor from HomeLight review it. The advisor said it was a "good agreement" and that it was "solid". I proceeded with the agreement on April 4th with up to 60 days to close. I may close sooner if I wish. Before meeting Juan I was dealing with two RE agents. One was great bit she overpromised the selling price, even when I presented her with contradictory comps. The other RE agent was pushy and persistent. Both agents wanted me to pour more money into the property. I felt that repairs and improvements were constantly draining my energy. What Juan gave me was a solution to my endless repairs and freedom from dealing with agents. He also alleviated my concerns by offering an Earnest Money Deposit of $50K. That's more than the standard $19.5K. He will also pay all the closing costs. All I would be responsible for is paying off the loan. I was almost immediately notified by the Title Company that the money was in Escrow. To sweeten the deal he also offered to have his guys move our stuff. I told him that I did not expect that but I definitely welcome it. Today someone dropped off 10 heavy duty boxes as I had requested. What more, there's is no need to clear out all of the junk that we accumulated over the years. That's a big help along with the 60 days. Moving is a stressful period in life and Juan made it that much easier. Now I will sit back and wait for an opportunity to buy again.

Tewfik H

★★★★★

Twin Home Buyer made selling my house simple and hassle-free. Their offer was fair, and they handled everything efficiently. I couldn’t have asked for a smoother experience!..

Abbas M.

★★★★★

Very seamless and professional. They do exactly what they say they would do. We work with a lot of sellers and I continue to refer to Juan and team for those who want to sell quickly and with the least hassle.

Suzanne P.

★★★★★

I had the pleasure of being contacted by one of the team members with Twin Homes. She was very pleasant to speak with and asked me to assist with the sale of one of their homes. She was prompt and available when I needed her. I later spoke with Juan Diaz who exemplified the values I stand for as a real estate professional. I have had such pleasant interactions with the entire team that I would always pick up the phone for them. If you have the opportunity to work on the buy or sale side I am sure you will be surprised with the communication and attention to detail they show. They have done the big and little things very well.

Gabriela G.

★★★★★

Bianca C.

★★★★★

What sets Twin Home Buyer apart is their personalized approach to customer service. The team took the time to understand my unique needs and provided tailored support and guidance every step of the way, ensuring a seamless selling experience. Overall, I couldn't be more satisfied with my experience with Twin Home Buyer. If you're considering selling your home and want a hassle-free, fair, and transparent process, I highly recommend reaching out to Twin Home Buyer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do tenants have to agree to the sale?

No, tenants do not have to agree to the sale. The transaction is between the property owner and Twin Home Buyer, and we take care of all the details.

Can I sell mid-lease?

Yes, you can sell your property mid-lease. The lease agreement will transfer to the new owner, and tenants can continue their tenancy under the same terms.

What if the tenant stops paying rent?

If the tenant stops paying rent, Twin Home Buyer will take on the risk once the sale is completed and ownership has transferred to us.

Do you pay fair market value?

Yes, we base our cash offers on comparable rental properties in the area, ensuring the offer is in line with fair market value for the property as occupied.