Family-owned in Southern California
About SoCal Home Buyers.
We’re Doug and Andrea Van Soest. We started SoCal Home Buyers in 2008 to buy houses directly from Southern California homeowners. Today, our small team helps sellers work through the property visit, written offer and details of closing an as-is sale.
Founded by Doug & Andrea.
Still family-owned and operated.
The people you’ll work with
Meet the SoCal Home Buyers team.
A property visit, an offer and an escrow each involve different questions. Here’s who works on those parts of your sale.
Doug Van Soest
Co-founder & Co-owner
Doug worked in residential appraisal for seven years, beginning in 2003, before focusing on buying homes. That background informs how he looks at comparable properties, a home’s condition and the work it needs when evaluating an offer.
Andrea Van Soest
Co-founder & Vice President
Andrea oversees company operations and renovation design. Her background includes interior design studies at Boston Architectural College and a California real estate license first issued in 2005. She brings that experience to the homes and projects the team takes on.
Gavino G.
Lead Inspector
Gavino handles property walkthroughs, looking at the home’s condition and repair needs. He helps the team understand what work is involved before putting an offer together.
Cyndi H.
Transaction Coordinator
Cyndi has been with the team since 2018. She coordinates transaction paperwork and communication with escrow, helping keep track of what’s needed between a signed contract and closing.
Cyndi on LinkedIn (new tab)Supporting your sale, from the property visit through escrow.
How we approach your sale
Know the people. Understand the offer.
You’re deciding what to do with a property, not just choosing a company. These are the conversations that matter before you sign.
01 / THE HOUSE
Start with its actual condition.
Tell us about repairs, belongings and who lives there. We evaluate the home as-is, so you can discuss selling before taking on renovation work.
02 / THE AGREEMENT
Look beyond the offer price.
Review the written price, costs, conditions and closing date together. Ask what you would keep after payoffs, and compare that with your other options.
03 / THE HANDOVER
Discuss closing and moving.
Let us know when you want to leave and what needs coordinating. Closing and possession arrangements belong in the agreement, not in an assumption.
not independent advice.
We have a financial interest in buying your property. Our offer may be lower than a listing could bring. Compare written terms and an independent listing estimate before deciding; speak with your own attorney or tax professional when those questions affect your sale.
Different homes. Different reasons to sell.
Help with an as-is home sale.
Some owners call about a house that needs work. Others are sorting out a rental, an inheritance or a move. Start with the questions that apply to your property.
Inherited homes
Understand the ownership and paperwork questions that can come with selling an inherited property.
Homes needing repairs
Compare selling in the home’s current condition with taking on improvements before a sale.
Tenant-occupied homes
Consider leases, occupancy and access when planning the sale of a rental property.
Vacant properties
Weigh the upkeep and carrying costs of an empty house while deciding what to do next.
Foreclosure concerns
Look at sale considerations when a lender deadline is involved. Tell us about any scheduled dates.
Selling during a divorce
Review timing and ownership questions with your own advisers before committing to a sale.
A direct sale is one option, not the right answer for every home. Our guide to selling a house for cash explains more of the tradeoffs.
From our transaction history
4630 Ferngreen Drive, Hemet
- Purchase price
- $345,000
- Closed
- September 2023
Our team purchased this Hemet home with repairs and updates to address. The walkthrough documented work including upstairs flooring, paint and landscaping. It’s one example of evaluating a home in its existing condition.
View this recorded transactionBefore you reach out
Questions about SoCal Home Buyers.
Check our background, explore past transactions and decide whether you’d like to talk.
Who owns SoCal Home Buyers?
Doug and Andrea Van Soest founded SoCal Home Buyers in 2008. It remains a family-owned business, with a small team supporting property evaluations, operations and transaction coordination.
Do you buy homes or list them for sale?
SoCal Home Buyers makes cash offers to buy residential properties as-is. Requesting an offer from us is not the same as hiring an agent to list your home. You can compare our offer with a listing estimate before deciding.
Where do you buy houses?
We work with homeowners across Southern California, including Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. Check our service-area directory or call with your address to discuss your property.
Where can I check your reviews and track record?
Read our seller testimonials and transaction history. You can also visit our Google reviews (new tab) and BBB profile (new tab).
Who helps with the property visit and escrow?
Gavino handles property walkthroughs and repair assessments. Cyndi coordinates transaction paperwork and communication with escrow. Doug and Andrea oversee the business, with Doug focused on property evaluation and Andrea on operations and design.
How do I contact the team for an offer?
Call (951) 331-3844 or send us your property details. There’s no charge for an offer and no obligation to accept. Start with the address, the home’s condition and what you have in mind for your move.
Talk with our team
Let’s talk about your house.
Share the address and what you’re trying to work out. We’ll discuss the property and whether an as-is sale to us could fit.
No charge for an offer. No obligation to accept.