Arranging a Professional Inspection Before You Sell Your House

Any serious buyer will probably make their offer contingent on having your house professionally inspected, with the buyer approving the results.   The buyer’s inspection may turn up a variety of

How to Get Rid of Stuff in Preparation for a Home Sale

Even if you’re only just beginning to think about selling your home, it’s never too early to get a head start on decluttering.

Alternatives to Selling: Becoming a Landlord

Thinking about selling that extra piece of residential real property? Think again. There may be more value to holding onto the property and renting it out than you realize. It's worth evaluating such potential benefits as rental income, tax deductions, property appreciation, and being your own boss -- before you put out the "For Sale" sign.

Seller Financing: How It Works in Home Sales

Seller financing  -- when the seller of a home takes on the role of lender in a home sale -- can help both sellers and buyers in a tight credit market. Sellers may be able to sell their  home faster in a slow market and get a sizable return on the investment.  Buyers can benefit from less stringent qualifying and down payment requirements and better loan terms.  But sellers should  be aware of the  risks inherent in seller financing.

Selling Your Home: Overview

Selling a home brings on a whole host of questions and, sometimes, anxieties. How much is your house really worth? What if you set the price too high or too low? Are you willing to pay a 5-6% commission for an agent's help? Should you repaint or remodel before putting the house on the market? This article will look at the home-selling process step by step and provide links to other sources of information.

Organizing Paperwork for Your Home Sale

Here is a list of the key files you’ll need when selling your house.

What’s Dual Agency in a Real Estate Transaction and Why Should I Avoid It?

What’s dual agency and why should I avoid it?

How Much It Will Cost to Have a Real Estate Agent Help Sell Your House

Selling a house or other property can be a confusing process, rife with marketing challenges, long contracts, legal requi

How to Interview a Prospective Agent to Sell Your Home

If you’ve identified a few real estate agents who seem like good candidates to sell your house and have checked out their websites (see the Nolo article “

Signing a Listing Agreement with Your Real Estate Agent

A “listing agreement” is a contract between a real estate agent (the listing agent) and a seller that says that the agent has the right to list your house.

FSBO or a Real Estate Agent?

If you sell your home yourself, without the assistance of a real estate agent, you will save a bundle on commissions. However, make sure you know what you are getting into before you take on this task. Learn about what the process entails, whether it is a good idea for your situation, and where to get help if you do decide to go it alone.

Negotiate the Agent's Commission When Selling Your House

Whether your home has gone up or down in value lately, you probably want to transform as much of the value as possible into  money going into your own pocket.  But, after you pay off your existing mortgage, your real estate commission may be the next largest expense in selling your home. Negotiating the amount you pay to your real estate agent could therefore be the easiest way to save money.

Choosing a Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home

There’s a lot at stake when you sell your house, especially if you’re under a tight deadline to move or you’re selling in a down (or really competitive) market. Sellers pay a lot of money for an

Is My Neighbor Ruining My Property Value by Listing Her Home at a Low Price?

I live in a development where most of the houses have similar layouts and features.

Listing Your House: What List Price Should You Set?

If you're about to put your house on the market, you're probably wondering, "How much can I get for it?" And indeed, you and your real estate agent should be checking out the competition (or "compa

Comparative Market Analysis Helps Sellers Price Their Home

Setting the right price from the start is among the most important steps toward successfully selling your home.   This requires taking a close look at what other houses are selling for to judge t

Can I sue my neighbor for having, in effect, reduced my home's sale price?

Question I live in an nice suburban neighborhood. The streets are generally clean, the schools are decent, and most of the houses on my block are well-maintained. I’m in the process of selling my home, and had hoped to bring in about $700,000. That’s based on its fair market appraisal, taking into

Preventing Crime at Your Newly Bought Home

Your house can be your fortress, your retreat from the outside world, and a place to cozy up and be yourself.

Relocating: Planning Your Move

Before the furniture starts flying, take the time to plan for a smooth transfer of everything from magazines to mutts.