Should I sell my Burbank house as-is or fix it up first?

Fix only what will add more to the price than it costs. Sell as-is when the work would be large, slow or uncertain.

Newer homes dominate Burbank. Only one of the three homes in our sample were built in 1980 or earlier, so an older house stands out, and buyers will set it against move-in-ready neighbors. Older homes there hold more of their value against new construction than the California median, 38.1 percent against 29.5 percent.

More in Should I Sell My House As-Is or Fix It Up First?

What does it cost to sell a house in Burbank?

Commission first, then transfer taxes, title and closing fees, and the repairs or credits a buyer asks for after inspection. Address District charges no commission.

On federal taxes, the IRS says an owner who owned and lived in the house as a main home for two of the five years before the sale may exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly.

Line by line in How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House?

What are the benefits of selling my Burbank house off-market?

You skip the listing, the showings and the repairs, and you set the date.

  • No listing. Your home never goes on the MLS or the listing sites, and there are no open houses or showings to strangers.
  • Sell it as it is. No repairs, staging or deep cleaning before you sell.
  • Your timeline. Choose the closing date that works for you, whether that is a few weeks out or a few months.
  • One buyer, one conversation. You deal directly with the buyer, not a string of showings, counteroffers and second rounds.

The cost is fewer buyers bidding. On the open market, competition can push a price higher, so it is worth weighing both routes. Should I Sell My House Off-Market? explains how.

Is now a good time to sell my house in Burbank?

Usually when the sale fits your life rather than the headlines. Your next move, your finances and the state of the house matter more than the month.

If you want a market signal, compare recent sales of homes like yours in Burbank with what is still listed. When listings sit longer and prices get cut, buyers have the upper hand.

More in How Do I Know When It’s Time to Sell My House?

How fast can I sell my house in Burbank?

Off-market, on the date you choose, whether that is a few weeks out or a few months, once the title work and the documents California requires are done.

A listing adds preparation, showings and negotiation up front, then the buyer’s inspection, appraisal and loan approval, any of which can push the date or end the deal.

If you are relocating, read How Do I Sell My House Fast When I’m Moving for Work?

How does selling my Burbank house off-market work?

In four steps, with no listing and no showings.

  1. Send us the address and a few details through the offer form, or get in touch.
  2. A person on our team looks at the house and recent sales nearby, and may ask for a walk-through.
  3. We send a written offer. You are under no obligation to accept it.
  4. If you do, the closing is handled by a title company or closing attorney, on your date.

Before you sign anything, we tell you in writing who the buyer is.

What if my Burbank house isn’t selling?

Usually the price, sometimes the condition, occasionally the marketing. The showing count tells you which.

Before you talk to another buyer, read your listing agreement. Most owe the agent a commission on any sale during the term. More in Why Isn’t My House Selling?

How do I sell an inherited house in Burbank?

Start with who has the authority to sign, usually the personal representative the probate court appoints, or a trustee. A title company will generally not close until that is documented.

Inherited property generally takes a basis equal to its value on the date of death, the IRS says, which can shrink the taxable gain. A probate attorney in California can explain the rest. More in How Do I Sell a House I Inherited?

How does Burbank compare with nearby neighborhoods?

North Hollywood, 3 miles away, shows one older home among the two we sampled. Valley Village, 5 miles away, has two older homes among the 13 we sampled. Glendale, 5 miles away, counts one older home among the one we sampled. Burbank ranks tied for 707th nationally for older homes, behind one of them.

Every neighborhood in the index has its own page, and the California page lists all 177 in the state.

Do older homes in Burbank sell for less than new construction?

In our sample, yes. The one older home in the 91504 sample sold for 38.1 percent of the average price of new construction in the same ZIP code. The California median is 29.5 percent, and the index median is 23.1 percent. With one older home behind it, treat the figure as a rough guide.

The gap reflects size, lot and condition as much as age, so price an older house against recent sales of other older houses nearby, not against new construction.

Burbank by the numbers

Older homes
1
of 3 homes sampled, built 1980 or earlier
Share of older homes
33.3%
California 39.9%. Index 49.0%.
Older vs new
38.1%
Older home price as a share of new construction
National rank
#707 (tie)
of 1,192 ZIP codes
State rank
#96
of 177 in California
Minimum lot
6,714 sq ft
As recorded in the source data

Of the three homes in the Address District sample for Burbank (91504), one was built in 1980 or earlier, a share of 33.3 percent. That places 91504 tied for 707th of 1,192 ZIP codes nationally for the number of older homes, and tied for 96th of 177 in California.

Across the 177 California ZIP codes in the index, 39.9 percent of the homes sampled were built in 1980 or earlier, against 49.0 percent across all 1,192 ZIP codes.

With three homes in the sample, read these figures as a snapshot of the homes sampled rather than a measure of the whole ZIP code.

How 91504 compares

Share of older homes

Homes in the sample built in 1980 or earlier

91504 Burbank33.3%
California39.9%
All ZIP codes in the index49.0%

Older home prices against new construction

Average older home price as a share of new construction

91504 Burbank38.1%
California median29.5%
Index median23.1%

Nearby neighborhoods in the index

ZIPPlaceDistanceRankShare
91601North HollywoodLos Angeles County, CA3 mi76250.0%
91607Valley VillageLos Angeles County, CA5 mi42415.4%
91207GlendaleLos Angeles County, CA5 mi883100.0%
91604Studio CityLos Angeles County, CA5 mi11730.4%
91401Sherman OaksLos Angeles County, CA6 mi47750.0%
90046Hollywood Hills / Laurel CanyonLos Angeles, CA7 mi70733.3%
91423Sherman OaksLos Angeles County, CA7 mi29813.6%
91011La Canada FlintridgeLos Angeles County, CA7 mi883100.0%

The top of California

State rankZIPPlaceHomesOlder homesShare
196161TruckeeNevada County, CA403792.5%
295404Santa RosaSonoma County, CA181688.9%
390266Manhattan BeachManhattan Beach, CA311032.3%
492253La QuintaRiverside County, CA12975.0%
590049BrentwoodLos Angeles, CA17847.1%
691604Studio CityLos Angeles County, CA23730.4%
794025Menlo ParkSan Mateo County, CA33618.2%
890066Mar VistaLos Angeles, CA31619.4%
994010BurlingameSan Mateo County, CA17635.3%
1092660Eastbluff / Dover Shores / Newport CenterNewport Beach, CA16637.5%

All 177 California ZIP codes in the index ›

About the data. Older homes are homes built in 1980 or earlier. Rank orders ZIP codes by the number of older homes in the sample, then by the number of homes. Full methodology and the complete index. Nothing on this page is legal, tax or financial advice.