have lived in that house for at least two out of the five years leading up to the sale. In some cases, homeowners can’t afford to be picky and wait for better conditions. Sometimes, what you owe is far more than what the house is worth, and a short sale seems to be the only option left (beside foreclosure, an outright default, or bankruptcy). In other cases, provided there’s no immediate need to move, the best option is to stay and wait for better days. This way, you save money that would otherwise be wasted on rent, as well as the amount of money needed for hiring moving companies and/or making repairs.
OTHER OPTIONS IF YOU CAN PUT IN SOME EXTRA EFFORT
Here are some options you can try before you give up on selling.
Talk to your new agent and convince them to use Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to ensure the price you ask for the house isn’t too far over market values. Unfortunately, the right price might mean less than what you initially paid for the property, especially if the house was bought between 2005 and 2008. Then, try to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. You would prefer to buy a clean, functional, attractive, and well-maintained house, so why wouldn’t you expect others to feel the same way about your house? Pay attention to details like fixing the lights, giving the walls a fresh coat of paint, adding a new security system, trimming the bushes, creating storage, etc. First impressions are critical. Renting is always an option if you and your agent just can’t make the sale. You can rent long term, or rent with a lease that gives the tenants the possibility to buy the house later. Think of it as a “test
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