Buying a house sight unseen: 8 tips to avoid risks

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Pacaso’s Editorial Team
July 10, 2025
A person researches buying a house sight unseen on their laptop with their child sitting on their lap.
After weeks (or months) of browsing online, you’re confident that you’ve found your dream home. But what if timing or distance prevents you from viewing it in person? That’s where buying sight unseen might save the day. What is a sight-unseen offer? Buying a house sight unseen means purchasing a property without touring it in person. 
Since the housing market is in a slump, with new home sales falling by 13.7% in May, sight-unseen real estate purchases are a current rarity. However, there are still some instances where buying sight unseen might be necessary. We’ll walk you through each step of how to buy a house sight unseen, discuss the pros and cons and share tips on determining if the home is right for you.

1. Work with a trusted real estate agent

If you must buy a house completely virtually, having a good real estate agent on your side is a must. A qualified and experienced local agent can help smooth out every step of the purchasing process and provide expertise in negotiation, communication and knowledge of real estate and the neighborhood where you plan to buy.Here are tips on finding a trusted agent:
  • Get referrals: Ask trusted friends, coworkers or family members in the area for recommendations. You can also ask your previous agent to refer someone in their network. 
  • Interview agents: Speak with the agent over the phone to determine if their communication style meshes with yours. Determine if you like how proactive they are and if they prioritize the same things you would in a home. 
  • Check reviews: Check sites like Zillow to make sure the agent has plenty of reviews and high ratings. 
  • Make sure their license is up to date: Finally, check that the agent’s license is current by searching for them on your state’s real estate department website. 
When finding someone trusted to work with when buying sight unseen, Pacaso offers plenty of tools to make the process easy.

2. Get pre-approved

Pre-approval involves determining how much money you can borrow to buy a home. Getting pre-approved can help you stand out from the crowd and increase your chances of your offer being accepted.Here are some steps to take:
  • Check your credit: A credit score of 620 or more is recommended, though the higher, the better. 
  • Determine your DTI ratio: Calculate your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). A DTI of 36% or below typically puts you in a good spot. 
  • Gather documents: You’ll need your Social Security number and documents showing employment information and proof of income. 
Check out our second home financing and payment options to streamline the process. 

3. Research the area

Since you won’t see it in person, thoroughly research the area and the home online. Here are a few research tips:
  • Use Google Maps: Google Maps Street View can help you click around the immediate vicinity of the house and give you an idea of what the area looks like. 
  • Research crime data: Sites like CrimeMapping and SpotCrime can show you crime rates for specific areas.  
  • Look up local schools: It's a good idea to look up the quality of local schools, especially if you have children or are planning a future family. 
  • Get a copy of the floor plan: The floor plan of the house can give you the most detailed information on space and measurements, letting you know if it’s too big or small for your needs. 
Take notes as you research different properties to keep track of the pros and cons of each. 

4. Take a virtual tour 

When you buy a home sight unseen, you should take advantage of all virtual tour opportunities to get a complete picture of a home. Ask your real estate agent or the current homeowner for a virtual tour. There might also be online walkthrough videos or virtual open houses available to join. A virtual open house is when the real estate agent uses a video conferencing tool, like Facebook livestreaming, Zoom or Microsoft Teams, to conduct a live walk-through of the house, answering your questions. Look at all the home’s details and features to hone in on your needs and determine if the home meets all your requirements. 

5. Get a home inspection

A home inspection is crucial if you’re purchasing a home you’ve never seen in person. An inspection should uncover any current and potential issues, including electrical or structural problems and water damage. This is especially valuable if you’re buying a second home that you’ll need to maintain and manage from afar.If you can’t make it, it’s a good idea to request a video call with your real estate agent during the inspection so that you can ask questions and stay in the loop. 

6. Ask friends or family to tour

Consider asking a friend or family member in the area to tour the home in person, with you tagging along on the phone. They can help you experience the home, get a feel for the place and get answers to questions in real time. Ask for help from close friends or family members who know your tastes. 

7. Make an offer

A sight-unseen offer isn’t too different from a traditional home offer. Once you have a pre-approval letter, you will need to decide how much money to offer and how much to put down. Your agent will help work through contingencies and negotiations to keep your offer competitive.Sight-unseen offers often have due diligence periods of two to four weeks, and more information can be gathered in that time. Because of this, you can technically make the offer as soon as you get the pre-approval letter.

8. Close on your home

To close on your new home, you will virtually sign purchase agreements and other paperwork, including the inspection report, seller disclosures and any other documents relevant to your purchase. You or your lending institution will wire your funds and complete the home purchase.Here are some of the steps to take when closing on your home sight unseen:
  • Remote notarization: You can sign your closing documents in a video call with your notary if you can’t meet in person. 
  • ETF: With an electronic funds transfer (ETF), you can securely send your down payment and closing costs. 
  • Standard purchase agreements & inspection reports: Thoroughly review these legal documents. They outline the terms of the purchase and the evaluations of the condition of the property. 

The pros and cons of buying a home sight unseen

Though unconventional, buying a house sight unseen isn’t without advantages. Buying a home sight unseen allows you to move quickly with convenient virtual tours. This is especially helpful if you’re buying a home out of state, since you may not have time to visit the home physically. There are lots of potential cons, though, too. It can be tough to gauge how the home feels in person through those video walkthroughs. You’ll also miss out on a feel for the community and won’t get to experience the amenities. Plus, hidden problems that might be impossible to see from a video could arise, such as a noise issue. 
ProsCons
You can move fastHard to gauge room size 
Virtual walkthroughs are convenientCan’t visit the community
You can save on travel expensesYou can’t experience home amenities 
You can save on travel timeHidden problems might arise
There are situations when you might have no choice but to buy sight unseen, such as when you must make a sudden military move. Even though it may not be the case right now, when the real estate market is hot, sight-unseen offers let you move fast and take advantage of good deals without travelling to see the property first. While other buyers might be scheduling in-person tours, you’re already viewing the home online and putting in an offer, saving you time and money.

Get a beautiful home sight unseen

Buying a house sight unseen is not for everyone, but you can do it with careful planning and communication. One way to buy a house sight unseen yet stress-free is with Pacaso. If you’re ready to buy a second home at a fraction of the cost, consider the benefits of LLC co-ownership. This is a great way to own a vacation home, and with Pacaso, you can co-own a luxury second home that is professionally designed and fully managed. Pacaso property listings have numerous detailed pictures and videos on the site.

Buying a house sight unseen FAQ

01: Can you put an offer on a home without seeing it?

Yes, you can put in an offer on a home without viewing it. A real estate agent can help you through this process. However, checking state and local laws beforehand is always a good idea.

02: What is a sight-unseen addendum?

A sight-unseen addendum is a document buyers sign when they make an offer on a property without seeing it in person. It states that the buyers are aware of the risks and limitations of buying a property if they are unable to inspect it, and that they accept the property as is.

03: Do I have to be physically present at closing?

Not necessarily. Your attorney may be able to sign for you at the closing. Some states require a lawyer to be involved. States that require the presence of a lawyer include: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. 

Check your state’s real estate laws where you are buying the home to determine if you need to be physically present at closing. 

04: Do I need a real estate agent to buy a home sight unseen?

No, you don’t need a real estate agent to buy a home sight unseen. However, a real estate agent with experience buying homes virtually can be a great asset during the process.

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