| Decide to Sell |
| When deciding to sell your home, it helps to
know whether you're in a seller's market with low inventory
and rising prices, or a buyer's market with lots of houses for
sale. It's also important to understand what kind of homes sell
best in your area. |
| If you're not under pressure to sell, test your
decision by considering factors such as: |
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Financial impact
It costs thousands of dollars to sell a property and relocate-often
as much as 15 percent of the sales price of your home by the
time you count the real estate commission, closing fees, and
moving costs. The less equity you have in the house, the greater
the financial hit. It pays to run the numbers before you sell. |
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Timing
Consider the timing of your sale relative to the market and
to your home equity. A slow market may negatively affect your
sale. And if your equity is low, you could end up bringing
cash to the closing to pay off your lender. The more equity
you have in your home, the better equipped you are to cover
your sales costs. |
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Tax consequences
Though capital gains tax laws have relaxed to the point where
most Americans don't have to pay tax on real estate profits,
you will likely have to pay if you've lived in your home only
a short time. Make sure you know where you stand. |
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Alternatives to selling
If you're selling to get away from crime, troublesome neighbors,
or because you want more space, do a reality check. A look
at crime statistics may show you're safer than you would be
in a new neighborhood; a tall fence could shield you from neighbors.
And remodeling your current home could give you the extra room
you want. |