CHAPTER 7 Understanding Today’s Home-Selling Process
Once you begin imagining your next chapter, it’s important to understand what selling a home looks like today—and how much it has changed since the last time many homeowners went through the process. If you’ve lived in your home for decades, you’re in good company. Many retirees haven’t sold a property in 30, 40, or even 50 years. Since then, nearly everything has evolved: how homes are marketed, how buyers shop, how financing works, and the role real estate professionals play. Approaching today’s market with yesterday’s assumptions can create unnecessary stress and, in some cases, costly missteps. Affordability is often the first concern. Longtime homeowners may worry they won’t qualify for a loan, won’t be able to manage two homes at once, or won’t have enough proceeds after commissions and closing costs. Others assume their age alone will limit their options. In reality, none of these factors automatically disqualify you. Lending guidelines are far more flexible than many people realize, and with thoughtful planning, the sale of one home and the purchase of another can be coordinated efficiently. Beyond logistics, selling a home is also an emotional transition—especially when it’s the place where you raised a family, celebrated milestones, and invested years of care. That connection is completely natural, but it’s important to recognize where emotion and market reality diverge. Buyers, appraisers, 38
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