I’m Miles. I buy houses in San Bernardino, and I’d rather you know who I am before you call.
This page is me, writing in my own voice. No agency, no ghostwriter. If you’ve talked to me on the phone, you’ll recognize it. If you haven’t, scroll through, and then call me.
Watch a 60-second introI didn’t plan to be in this business.
I grew up in San Bernardino. Born here, raised here, still here. My mom still lives in the house I grew up in.
I had a regular job. Then in [YEAR], someone close to me lost their house. I won’t put their name on the internet, but the short version is this: they ran out of time and ran out of options. They were trying to sell, but every buyer they talked to wanted weeks of inspections and contingencies they couldn’t afford to wait through. By the time anyone gave them a real answer, it was too late.
I started looking into how cash buyers actually work, and I realized two things. First, most of them weren’t local. They were national companies with call centers, treating San Bernardino like a market on a spreadsheet. Second, even the local ones operated like they were trying to win, not like they were trying to help.
I started Miles Buys Homes in [YEAR]. I’ve closed on more than [X] houses since. Some were inherited. Some were behind on payments. Some just needed to sell fast. Every one of them was a person.
Why I’m not a real estate agent.
I get asked this a lot, so it’s worth answering up front.
What an agent does
- Represents you (or the buyer) in a transaction
- Markets your house, runs showings, negotiates offers
- Paid a commission, usually 5 to 6 percent, out of your closing
- Shepherds you through escrow with a third-party buyer
What I do
- Make you a direct cash offer to buy your house myself
- No marketing, no showings, no third party
- No commission. I pay all closing costs.
- The deal is between you and me, not me brokering between you and someone else
That’s why I don’t need a license. I’m not representing you, I’m dealing with you. If you’d rather work with an agent, that’s often the right call. I’ll tell you when it is, in a section below.
How I actually make money.
I get this question every other call. Here’s the rough math, because there’s no point hiding it.
I generally buy houses for somewhere between 70 and 85 percent of what they’ll sell for after I’ve fixed them up. That 15 to 30 percent spread isn’t all profit. Here’s where it actually goes:
Where the spread goes
On a typical deal my actual profit, after everything works out, lands somewhere in that $15K to $40K range. Sometimes more. Sometimes I lose money on a deal. That happens.
That’s why I have to be careful with my numbers up front, and why I can’t pay what a retail buyer would.
If those numbers don’t work for you, list with an agent. You’ll likely net more, if you have the time, the cash for repairs, and the patience for a real estate listing in this market. If you don’t, my offer might be the better deal even though it’s a lower number.
What I won’t do, and what I will.
These are the lines I won’t cross. They aren’t a marketing position, they’re how I actually operate.
If I wouldn’t take this offer in your shoes, I won’t ask you to either.
Before I send a number, I think about whether I’d accept it. If I wouldn’t, we don’t have a deal yet.
I’d rather lose a deal than push someone into one.
If you’re not sure, I’d rather you hang up and think about it. I’ll be here when you decide.
I don’t take deals where the seller looks relieved instead of happy.
Relief means I got the deal cheap and you needed it badly. That’s not a win. I want both of us to walk away thinking we made the right move.
I tell people no when no is the right answer.
If listing with an agent is going to net you more, I’ll tell you. I lose deals doing this. It’s still the right call.
When I’m NOT the right answer.
I’d rather lose your business than waste your time. Here’s when listing with an agent is genuinely the better call for you.
- Your house is in good condition and you can afford to leave it on the market for 60 to 90 days.
- You have the cash to handle 1 to 2 months of mortgage payments while it’s listed.
- You’re not in a hurry. No foreclosure clock, no probate timeline, no out-of-state hassle.
- Your house is in a hot pocket where buyers will pay over asking and waive contingencies.
If three of those four are true for you, I’m probably not your guy. List with an agent. You’ll likely net more. Tell me you considered me and I’ll send you to an agent I trust. If two or fewer are true, my offer is probably your best math.
What working with me actually looks like.
From the first call to closing, here’s what to expect, so you’re not guessing.
The first call
Usually 10 to 15 minutes. I’ll ask about the house, your situation, and your timeline. I won’t try to schedule a walkthrough on this call. I want you to think about it after we hang up, not feel rushed into the next step.
The walkthrough
I come walk the house myself. I bring a notebook, not a clipboard. I don’t take photos unless you say it’s OK. I’ll usually ask about the house’s history because that tells me more than the condition does. Most walkthroughs take 30 minutes.
The number
I’ll tell you a number before I leave, or by the next morning if I need to think about it. The number I give you is the number I close at. No chipping away during inspections. No surprise reductions.
The contract
Short. Usually around 4 pages. You can have an attorney review it before you sign. There’s no pressure to sign on the spot. If you want a few days, take a few days.
Closing
Happens at Starcrest Escrow, usually within 2 weeks. We can close longer out if you need more time. I pay all closing costs. You walk out with a check or wire.
It’s me, and the title company I trust.
It’s me on the walkthrough. Me on the contract. Me at closing. Me on every phone call. If you talk to someone about your house, it’s me.
Here’s who’s behind me:
- Lynnette Sanchez at Starcrest Escrow handles all my closings.
Don’t decide based on this page.
A website can be polished to say anything. Here’s what I’d actually recommend.
- Read this page (you did).
- Call or text me. You’ll hear my voice and we can talk about your situation.
- Check my reviews on Google and Clever.
- Ask me for a phone reference. I’ll connect you with a past seller who’s offered to take a call.
Decide after those four. Not based on a paragraph I wrote about myself.
I’d rather hear from you than the other way around.
Text or call. No script, no commitment. If now’s not the right time, save the number for later.
Or, if you’d rather not talk yet, the cash-offer form lives on the homepage.