Should I sell my house now?

Choosing the right time to sell your house

If you can choose when to sell, it’s best to do it in a “seller’s market” — when the number of available homes is low in relation to the number of buyers. Here are some indicators that the market is good for sellers:

• Mortgage interest rates are low, allowing buyers to finance larger mortgages.
• The economic climate of your region is healthy and people feel confident about the future.
• There’s a jump in house buying activity, as often occurs in the spring.
• Your area is considered especially attractive — because of the schools, low crime rate, weather, proximity to a major city, or other factors such as employment opportunities.

Of course, not everyone gets to choose when to sell. If you have to move immediately — for example, because of financial reasons, a divorce, a job move, or an imperative health concern — and you don’t have any of the advantages listed above — you may have to settle for a lower price in order to make a quick sale.  Another option would be to contact a local professional real estate buyer.  Real estate buyer and investors are looking to buy houses in sellers markets and buyers markets and can be especially helpful when you need to sell your house fast.  Just look search online for “We Buy Houses” in your local area, craigslist.org, or try your local newspaper classified ads.

In most areas of the country, now is not a sellers market.  Prices are dropping, mortgages are hard to qualify for and foreclosures are at an all time high.  For most people, if you can stay in your house and weather the storm, this is not the time to sell your house.

How can I sell my house quickly in today’s real estate market?

Tips to Sell Your House Quickly

In many areas of the country, it’s very hard to sell your house fast.   There seems to be a glut of homes for sale, and fewer buyers willing to buy them.  You might have plenty of “lookers”, but no one willing to make you a reasonable offer. This may be due to mortgage interest rates, or simply due to the nature of real estate, which tends to have spikes and cooling off periods.

Be Creative, set your house apart from the rest

There are several creative options you can do to help sell your home quickly. You can offer to pay certain closing costs which the buyer would normally pay, such as closing costs. You can offer to “pay down” the interest rate on their loan. You might offer to pay for the buyer’s moving fees, or offer a gift card to a local home improvement store. You could agree to pay for the inspection report. Be creative. You could offer a flat screen television or leather furniture.  While these expenses may run from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, they may save you money in the long run. Not having to reduce your asking price significantly, and selling your house quickly, will equate to a bigger savings to you.

Location, Location, Location…emphasize the selling points of your location

Additionally, if you know of any planned improvements for your area, be sure to point those out. If buyers have children, point out any advantages of your local school system, or special schools which may also operate in the area.  Find out what the buyers interests are, and point out how those interests can be enjoyed in your area.

Contact a professional

Alternatively, to sell your house quickly, contact a local real estate investor.  Real estate investors, we buy houses companies, are looking to buy houses and do not require long closing periods, inspections, repairs, or any fees.  Many investors can give you an offer within 48 hours and close within 10 days.

How can I sell my house fast?

If you are looking to sell your house fast, you have many options available.

• List your house for sale with a real estate agent
• Sell your house FSBO (For Sale By Owner
• Sell your house to a professional real estate investor

List your house with a Realtor

To sell your house fast you will need to have your agent list the house at a low price to attract buyers.  You will be competing with hundreds of other house on the MLS, trying to attract a buyer that can buy your house quickly.  The problem is most buyers will need to go to a bank to get a loan and that process can easily take 45-60 days from the time they view your house to the time they are ready to close the transaction.  At the end of the transaction, you will need to pay 6-7% of the purchase price to the real estate agents involved, reducing the amount of money that goes into your pocket.

Sell your house by owner

Selling your house by yourself can be a way to save money on fees and real estate commissions.  The challenge for most sellers is finding a qualified buyer in a timely manner that will close quickly.  As with selling your house with an agent, you are competing with thousands of other houses on the market and you have the expense and hassle of marketing your house.  Not to mention repairs and other clean up that is typically required to sell your house.

Sell your house to a trustworthy investor

You may have seen the “We Buy Houses” signs on the roadside or in the newspaper classifieds.  These are typically real estate investors like advertising their service to sellers like yourself.   To find a trustworthy investor, make sure to check if they are a member of the Better Business Bureau.  An investor can close quickly with cash, make all of the repairs that are necessary and buy your house for a fair price.  Investors have many creative techniques to buy your house that will help you sell your house fast and avoid the hassles of listing your house with a real estate agent or selling on your own.

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