About Penguin Capital

Penguin Capital LLC is a small company based in Whiting, Indiana. We buy houses for cash, as-is, directly from homeowners in Lake County. It’s locally owned and run.

There isn’t much more to the story than that. We’d rather earn your trust by being clear about how we work and making it easy to check us out.

What we do, and what we don’t

We buy houses. Mostly single-family homes, in any condition, anywhere in Lake County, from Gary and Hammond to Crown Point and Lowell. Duplexes, small multi-family buildings and vacant lots are case by case. Ask, and you’ll get a straight answer.

We’re not a real estate brokerage. We don’t list houses, hold open houses, or represent sellers. When we make you an offer, we’re the buyer, on the other side of the table. That’s worth keeping in mind. It’s one reason we encourage you to get advice from someone who works only for you, like an attorney, an agent, or a HUD-approved housing counselor if you’re behind on your mortgage.

How we work with sellers

The way we handle a sale is laid out step by step on our how it works page. In short:

• You talk with us about the house and what you need.
• We see the house in person, or through photos and video if that’s easier.
• You get a written offer that you’re free to accept, counter or turn down.
• If you accept, a local title company handles the closing and pays you.

We’re honest about the trade-off, too. A cash offer is below what a fully fixed-up house would bring on the open market. If your house is in good shape and you have time, listing it may put more money in your pocket. Our cash buyer vs. agent comparison shows how to figure out which way nets you more.

What we put in writing

Promises are easy to make on a phone call. These are the ones we put on paper:

• The price, and that it’s for the house as-is. You don’t owe us repairs.
• Who pays which closing costs. You’ll see this before you sign, not at the closing table.
• Your closing date. You choose it, and it goes in the agreement.
• No fees from us and no agent commissions. If a cost isn’t in the agreement, you don’t pay it to us.
• Who the buyer is. The agreement names the buyer, so you know exactly who you’re selling to.

If something you were told isn’t in the written agreement, ask us to add it before you sign.

How to check us out

You should vet any company before you sign a contract to sell your house. That includes us. Here’s how.

Look up the company. Ask us which state Penguin Capital LLC is registered in, then check its registration and status yourself on that state’s free business search. Indiana’s is the Secretary of State’s INBiz business search.

Check the title company yourself. We close at local title companies. Look up the title company’s phone number on your own rather than using one someone gives you, and call to confirm they have the file. Your money comes from the title company at closing, never in a side arrangement.

Get other offers. Ask another buyer, or an agent, what they think. A good offer holds up to comparison.

Have it reviewed. You’re welcome to have an Indiana real estate attorney read our agreement before you sign. We’ll answer any questions they have.

We wrote a longer guide on how to spot a legit cash home buyer. It covers the red flags to watch for with any buyer.

Reach us directly

Call us now. If you’d rather start in writing, the offer form takes a couple of minutes. You can also browse the FAQ first.