Nearly One in Four St. Louis Home Buyers Paid Cash, but the Share Swings Widely by Price and County

Nearly one in four St. Louis area home buyers,23.7%, paid cash for their property between November 2025 and October 2026, according to data from MORE, REALTORS®. Out of 34,948 closed sales in the St. Louis metropolitan area that reported how buyers paid, 8,269 were all-cash purchases.

For buyers, this figure means that cash offers are a significant force in the market. Competing against cash buyers can be challenging, especially for those relying on mortgage financing, because cash deals often close faster and with fewer contingencies. For sellers, a high cash share may mean more flexibility in choosing between offers, and in some cases, a smoother transaction process. However, the prevalence of cash buyers also depends heavily on the price range and location, which can affect both the competition and the types of offers sellers receive.

How St. Louis Buyers Paid for Homes

While cash is a major player, conventional financing remains the most common way to buy a home in the region. Here is the full breakdown of payment methods for the 34,948 reported sales:

• Conventional loan: 53.7% (18,767 sales)
• Cash: 23.7% (8,269 sales)
• FHA loan: 10.2% (3,574 sales)
• VA loan: 6.6% (2,324 sales)
• Other: 4.2% (1,459 sales)
• USDA loan: 0.6% (225 sales)
• Private financing: 0.4% (136 sales)
• Contract for deed: 0.2% (60 sales)
• 1031 Exchange: 0.1% (43 sales)

These numbers show that while most buyers still use traditional financing, a substantial share of the market is driven by cash and alternative methods.

Cash Dominates at the Extremes, But Not in the Middle

The cash share of home purchases varies dramatically depending on price. At the lowest end, nearly half of all homes under $150,000,46.1% of 5,912 closings, were bought with cash. This suggests that investors or buyers with significant liquidity are especially active in this segment, which can make it harder for first-time or lower-income buyers to compete. At the high end, 35.0% of homes priced at $600,000 and up (out of 3,662 closings) were also bought with cash, indicating that affluent buyers often bypass financing.

In the middle price ranges, cash purchases are less common:

• $150,000 to $249,999: 16.7% of 7,871 closings were cash
• $250,000 to $399,999: 15.6% of 11,366 closings were cash
• $400,000 to $599,999: 19.2% of 6,137 closings were cash

For buyers in these ranges, financing is the norm, and sellers are more likely to see a mix of loan types among their offers.

Cash Share by County: St. Louis County Leads, Lincoln Lags

Cash buyers are not distributed evenly across the region. St. Louis County, Missouri, had the highest share, with 30.8% of sales closing in cash and a median sale price of $295,000. The City of St. Louis also saw a high cash share at 28.6%, with a median sale price of $240,000. In contrast, Lincoln County, Missouri, had the lowest cash share at 13.3%, where the median sale price was $313,750.

Other notable county cash shares include:

• St Charles County, Missouri: 17.4% cash, median $375,000
• Madison County, Illinois: 19.2% cash, median $219,900
• St Clair County, Illinois: 19.3% cash, median $219,500
• Jefferson County, Missouri: 15.5% cash, median $298,900
• Franklin County, Missouri: 19.6% cash, median $275,000

These differences reflect both local buyer profiles and the types of properties available. For agents and sellers, understanding the typical payment mix in each county can help set expectations and shape negotiation strategies. For buyers, especially those using financing, it is useful to know where cash competition may be strongest.

As always, the St. Louis market offers a wide range of experiences depending on price and location. Whether you are buying or selling, knowing how homes are actually paid for can help you prepare for the realities of the transaction.