Green Street Home Buyers operates as a family-owned real estate investment business serving property owners across North Carolina who seek alternatives to conventional home sales. The Durham-based company purchases properties directly from homeowners and landlords through all-cash offers, eliminating the traditional route of agents, commissions and extended market listings.
"We know we are not the right fit for everyone," says Connor Teddy, territory manager for the company. “In fact, we only end up working with about 1 in 5 people we talk to. That is because we are upfront about how we operate. We tell sellers right away that we are usually not going to be the highest offer; that is not why people choose us."
Sellers who work with the company face no repair requirements, commissions, fees or closing costs. Green Street Home Buyers purchases properties off-market, meaning the transactions occur outside the Multiple Listing Service system used by traditional real estate agents.
The company positions itself as a solution provider for property owners facing sticky situations. These include foreclosure proceedings, tax problems, inherited properties, difficult tenant situations and properties requiring extensive repairs.
"They choose us because we are honest about what we can do, and we follow through," Teddy says. "When we say we are going to do something, we do it. That matters, especially when someone is facing a situation where a delayed or failed sale could cause serious problems."
The company's investment strategy focuses on what it calls "value-add" opportunities. This typically involves purchasing properties requiring renovation work or those that are underutilized. The company's post-purchase activities vary by property and situation. Some renovations involve adding bedrooms, constructing accessory dwelling units or mother-in-law suites, or converting oversized lots into duplexes. The company retains some properties as rentals while reselling others to investor partners.
Green Street Home Buyers operates with a team structure that includes Home Buying Specialists and Seller Coordinators. The coordinators set appointments, while the specialists meet with property owners in person.
"At the appointment, our job is not just to look at the house," Teddy says. “We are there to understand the situation and figure out if we are the right fit. Every seller is different and we lead with curiosity. Sometimes we are the right solution, sometimes we are not, and we say that."
On the occasions when the company decides that a certain property meets the company's requirements, representatives take sellers through what they call a clear and simple agreement before setting up closing plans. After appointments, team members go back to home offices or other locations to make follow-up contacts with former sellers, brief colleagues and make plans for the next meeting.
The company avoids rural areas in its target markets, citing fewer buyers and limited sales activity that complicate property valuation and resale. Instead, Green Street Home Buyers concentrates on primary, secondary and growing tertiary markets.
"These areas have steady demand and solid growth," Teddy says. "They give us the right mix of opportunity and reliability so we can help more sellers, close deals efficiently, and create win-win situations for everyone involved."
Green Street Home Buyers incorporates data analysis into its property evaluation process while maintaining that technology serves as a tool rather than a replacement for direct assessment. Before appointments, the company reviews comparable properties and recent sales through platforms including MLS and PropStream. This research provides baseline information about property values, market timing and condition patterns.
"Data plays a big role in how we evaluate and acquire properties, but we try not to let it replace common sense or real conversations," Teddy says. "That is why we walk the house, take our own photos and videos, and talk with the seller about the property's condition and their goals."
The company acknowledges that data-driven valuations can miss important details revealed through physical inspection. Properties may appear sound based on available information while harboring significant structural or mechanical issues. Conversely, seller circumstances or property layouts sometimes suggest value propositions that differ from data-based assessments.
Technology also supports the company's organizational systems. Green Street Home Buyers uses digital platforms to track appointments, seller communications and follow-up tasks. This systematic approach aims to prevent missed connections or overlooked details in ongoing transactions.
"At the end of the day, the data gives us the map, but we still have to get in the car and drive the road ourselves," Teddy says. "We use it to guide our decisions, not make them for us."
The company presents multiple options to property owners rather than offering a single solution for every situation. Some properties are purchased directly by Green Street Home Buyers. Others are sold to investors within what the company calls its Green Street Connect Program, described as a vetted investor network. In certain cases, the company advises sellers that listing on the open market represents their best option.
A property transaction on Dunstan Street in Durham illustrates the complex situations Green Street Home Buyers encounters. The property owner, a military veteran, had rented the home to a tenant who was subletting multiple properties across the city and converting them into drug houses. The tenant collected rent by the bed from residents and severely damaged the property.
"The tenant was known in the area for taking advantage of landlords through the court system," Teddy says. "He knew how to play the game and had made life miserable for the owner. By the time the owner came to us, he was exhausted and overwhelmed. He was getting harassed daily by calls and texts from the tenant."
The situation affected the surrounding neighborhood, with parents expressing fear about allowing children to play outside. Residents described feeling held hostage by the tenant and the people occupying the property.
Green Street Home Buyers purchased the property from the veteran owner, then spent several months navigating the legal process to remove the tenant. Neighbors contacted the company to express gratitude once the situation was resolved.
The company subsequently sold the property to a local builder who renovated it. The transformation converted what neighbors had considered a problem property into one of the street's most attractive homes. The outcome improved safety and quality of life for Dunstan Street residents.
This transaction reflects the company's stated focus on addressing difficult property situations that may discourage traditional buyers or real estate agents. Green Street Home Buyers positions its willingness to handle complex scenarios as a differentiating factor in the North Carolina real estate investment market.
Green Street Home Buyers reports observing shifts in homeowner sentiment related to broader economic conditions and post-pandemic market adjustments.
"What we are seeing right now is that houses are sitting on the market longer," Teddy says. "The buyers just are not showing up like they used to."
The company describes a gap between seller price expectations and current market realities. Many property owners maintain valuations based on peak prices from the early 2020s, a period characterized by high demand and rapid appreciation. Current market conditions reflect more cautious buyer behavior and increased selectivity.
Multiple offer scenarios and bidding wars have largely disappeared from the markets where Green Street Home Buyers operates.
"Now, buyers want move-in ready homes at fair prices," Teddy says. "If the house needs work or is priced too high, it tends to sit. We are having more conversations with sellers where we have to gently walk them through where the market really is today."
The company positions these market education conversations as part of its service rather than simply presenting purchase offers. "People are often surprised at how far we go to make things easy for them," Teddy says. “Even if someone doesn't end up working with us, we still want to point them in the right direction. We've learned that the more we help, the more opportunities come our way."
Connor Teddy offers specific guidance for homeowners considering investor sales.
"Don't sell to an investor or anyone if it doesn't feel right, just like you wouldn't hire a real estate agent you don't trust," he says. "Selling a property is a big decision, and you should feel confident about who you're working with."
When asked about the aspect of the business he values most, Teddy points to the company's personnel rather than transaction volume.
"I'm most proud of our people," Teddy says. "They show up every day ready to help in a real way. That's what makes the difference. Helping sellers at a higher level isn't just something we talk about; it's part of who we are."
Green Street Home Buyers continues operating throughout North Carolina, maintaining its focus on direct property purchases and win-win solutions for property owners navigating challenging real estate situations.
