Sell My House and Avoid Foreclosure

How to sell your house and avoid foreclosure

In this real estate market, buyers are looking to buy houses at good prices.  This is a great time to sell if you have enough equity in your house.  You can set a low asking price and get a buyer within a few weeks.  If you are facing foreclosure due to a drop in income, this may be a great way to sell your house and avoid foreclosure.

If you do not have enough equity in your house, you may consider a short sale.  A short sale is when you sell your house for less than you owe to avoid foreclosure.  In this situation, the bank will need to approve the sale amount.  A experienced short sale Realtor or short sale investor can guide you through this process.

Short sales are becoming a very common way for homeowners to avoid foreclosure and help salvage their credit.  A short sale is much better than a foreclosure on your credit and may allow you to buy another home in a few years.  In addition to saving your credit, you are selling your house instead of letting the bank take it away from you.  It’s a win win situation.

If you are considering a short sale, due your research.  There are a number of realtors that claim to be short sale specialists.  Make sure to check their references and ask how many short sale transactions they have completed.  An experienced real estate investor is able to make an offer on your house and get the short sale process started much sooner than listing your house with a realtor.

If you’re not sure which route is best for you, contact local real estate agents or we buy houses people and get the facts.

Sell my home by myself

Are you thinking, how can I sell my home by myself?  If so, you’re one of a growing number of people that are looking to sell their homes and avoid high fees and commissions.

There are many types of flat fee or limited service companies around the country. While the programs differ from each other concept and services, each is designed to increase the MLS and public exposure of For Sale By Owner (FSBO) sellers. They allow you to avoid part or all of the commission if you sell the property yourself.  Some provide purchase and sale agreements and discount programs with title and escrow companies. You can pick and choose the style that is right for you.

A couple really good resources for FSBO sellers are www.fsbo.com and www.forsalebyowner.com. Also, if you know a local Loan Officer, they might be able to help you out with the open houses. In return, they get to pre-qualify all the people who come in.  This is a great way for the loan officer to get new mortgage leads and you get more exposure for your house.

If you want to do it yourself, you can always just print some brochures, advertise in the paper. However to get the maximum visibility you need to do an MLS listing. This is what real estate agents use. This is what you’ll see on realtor.com for example. When you use a realtor you get that listing.  You can do it cheaper by going to flat fee listing websites to do it yourself. You can usually buy a kit to put the outside brochures, lockbox, etc also from those sites. You can use this approach and pocket the fee or reduce the price to move your house faster.

If you need to sell your house fast, you may consider contacting a local we buy houses investor.

How to Sell My House Online

If you’re asking yourself, how can I sell my house online, you’re in the right place.  The internet is a great place to showcase your home and find prospective buyers while avoiding real estate agent commissions.  With most buyers starting their new home search on the internet, it’s important to get your house in front of those buyers.

• List your house on a For Sale by Owner (FSBO) website.  There are many for sale by owner websites to choose from, fsbo.com, forsalebyowner.com, owners.com.  Just to name a few.  Pick the company that already has quite a few listings in your area and select the package that fits your budget.  Upload photos and write about the most appealing features of your home.  Then wait for buyers to find your house and contact you.
• List your house for sale on eBay.com.  Did you know you can auction your house for sale on eBay?  Create an auction on ebay to sell your house online.  Upload photos and create a buzz with your real estate auction.
• List your house for sale on Craigslist.org.  Post a free advertisement in the Real Estate for sale by owner section of Craigslist.  Craigslist is very popular and attracts many potential buyers all day, every day.

Contact a professional house buyer in your area.   You can find local buyers by looking for we buy houses advertisements.  A professional real estate investor will be able to offer many creative options to help you sell your house fast online.  It’s a fast and easy way to sell your house quickly.

How to Sell Your Home Fast with a Short Sale

These tips for making your home sell fast are sure to streamline the process.

Begin preparing the paperwork as soon as possible. Your real estate agent or short sale investor is often able to help. Typically you will need the following items:

• Hardship letter
• Tax Returns
• Bank Records
• HOA, Property Taxes and other pertinent outlays associated with the property.
• Copy of Mortgage statements, liens or other monies owned on the house.
• Put out the word. Let everyone know you need to sell the home – fast. Use works like ‘motivated seller’ or “distressed homeowner” to indicate a willingness to work with buyers able to provide a fast closing.Contact the lender to let them know your situation. Perform maintenance and upkeep as you are able. If finances are an issue, try to make the property appear as attractive and well maintained as possible.
• Create a list of what you need the most from this deal. For example, if you need a fast closing avoid bankruptcy then say-so when speaking with the agent or potential short sale buyers. If you need a new place to live or rent after closing then mention that as well. Often these items can become part of the negotiation process to help make the deal work.
• Identify personal property prior to accepting a final offer. If you intend to take the appliances be sure to specify this in advance. Likewise, it’s important to bring all items that will remain with the home (good and bad) as well as be removed from the home prior to entertaining offers.
• Make a folder of all contact information and paperwork. Keep it accessible when speaking with real estate agents or potential buyers. Remember, everything must be in writing and never sign something you don’t fully understand.
• Avoid entertaining multiple offers all at once. While this might seem like a good way to increase the odds of a successful sale, it often creates unnecessary delays that could result in your losing the home or growing farther into debt. Instead, ask to see proof of financing or other indication of a quick closing.
• Keep it realistic. Even the most reputable short sale offer is likely to be somewhat slow given the large number of sales currently going through the system. A lot of sellers are searching for solid short sale offers so increase your odds by responding quickly to all inquiries and remaining patient throughout the process.
• Start Early. The sooner you start the better the odds of selling your home before it becomes critical or urgent.