We Buy Houses for Cash in Elizabeth, NJ

Selling in Elizabeth often means sorting out city and county details first: a rent control chapter that covers many rentals, a yearly rental registration, a tax sale run as an online auction, and county offices on Broad Street where estates are probated and deeds recorded. Swifty Home Buyers purchases Elizabeth houses and small multi-family buildings for cash in their current condition. Offers are firm, nothing depends on a lender, we ask for no repairs and charge no agent fee, and you choose when to close. Details change, so confirm with the city or an attorney. General information only, not legal advice.

Areas we cover: Midtown, Bayway, Elizabethport, Elmora, Elmora Hills, Frog Hollow, Keighry Head, North End, Peterstown, The Point, Hilltop, Westminster

Chapter 5.70 of the city code, titled Rent Control and Stabilization (the posted supplement shows an effective date of 12.12.24), applies to rented dwellings but lists exemptions. Motels, hotels and rooming houses are out, as are buildings of two units or fewer, three-unit buildings that are owner-occupied and four-unit buildings that are owner-occupied. New units built after the chapter took effect are exempt permanently. Section 5.70.060 says a landlord may not request or receive an increase in base rent above three percent over the base rent received for the prior twelve months, and section 5.70.080 allows an increase of up to twenty percent of base rent for the first year only after a vacancy. The rent figures in the code can be amended, so check the current text. The chapter calls for the Fair Rental Housing Board to hold a hearing within ninety days of receiving an application. If you own a building of three or more units, check whether it is covered.

The city says taxes are due quarterly on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1, with bills usually mailed by mid-January and mid-July. A ten-day grace period to the 10th of the month is allowed by council resolution, after which interest is charged from the first day of the month. The city lists interest at 8 percent on the first $1,500 of total delinquency and 18 percent after that, and a 6 percent year-end penalty on delinquent current-year balances on June 30. Payments can be made online, in person or by mail, and the Tax Collector's Office lists weekday hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 908-820-4115. The office is in Room 102 at 50 Winfield Scott Plaza. The Tax Assessor, in Room 301 at 908-820-4141, maintains ownership and other property data and handles property tax deduction applications.

American Water's contract services page says Liberty Water Company is the contract operator of the City of Elizabeth's water system, serving approximately 19,203 customers, with toll-free customer service at 1-855-722-7066 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The page describes a lead and galvanized service line replacement program with a 2031 target, and says a July 2021 New Jersey law requires water providers to share service line materials with customers. For a closing, ask Liberty about the account and any service line questions.

• You own an Elizabeth three- or four-family that is not owner-occupied and are unsure whether your March 1 rental registration is on file.
• You inherited an Elizabeth house and are waiting on the Union County Surrogate's office before anyone can sell.
• You are a landlord in Elizabeth with tenants under the city's 3 percent cap and would rather sell than keep managing the building.
• Your Elizabeth property carries unpaid taxes and you want to understand the June tax sale and lien redemption before it reaches that point.
• You own an Elizabeth house that needs repairs and would rather not pay for work or hold showings to sell it.

• Selling a house in New Jersey
• Sell as-is
• Inherited house
• Foreclosure

• City of Elizabeth: Rent Control
• City of Elizabeth: Code of Ordinances, Chapter 5.70 Rent Control and Stabilization (Supp. No. 28 PDF)
• City of Elizabeth: 2026 Rent Control Property Registration Forms (PDF)
• City of Elizabeth: January 2026 Rent Control Registration Notice (PDF)
• City of Elizabeth: Billing and Tax Payment
• City of Elizabeth: Tax Collector - Division of Revenue staff directory
• City of Elizabeth: Tax Assessor
• City of Elizabeth: Tax Sale
• City of Elizabeth: Lien Redemption
• City of Elizabeth: Bureau of Construction
• Union County Surrogate: Contact Us
• Union County Surrogate: Probate a Will
• Union County Surrogate: Forms and Fees
• Union County Clerk: Locations and Hours
• Union County Clerk: Fee Schedules
• American Water: Liberty Water Company (Elizabeth)

Last reviewed: September 2026. General information only, not legal or tax advice. Rules vary by county and municipality and change over time; talk to a local real estate attorney or title company before you decide.