I recently read an article that said Florida has more houses for sale than anywhere across the country.
Since I was looking into listing my home on the market, I was concerned about the challenges involved.
The more I researched, the more I realized the sizable costs associated with closing a sale. There are numerous settlement fees due at completion of the process. When the title of the property is transferred to the buyer, around two to three percent of the total price adds up to closing fees. Plus, there are considerable fees that are paid directly to the realtor. In Florida, the typical agent commission is around six percent of the purchase price. That can result in tens of thousands of dollars going directly into the realtor’s pocket. My home was built in the mid 1800s. I inherited the property from my grandparents. While I was always responsible with maintenance and repairs, many features of the home were horribly outdated. I doubted that the electrical or plumbing systems would comply with modern building codes. Although the roof was in good shape, it was definitely too old to qualify for insurance. In order for a buyer to secure a loan from a bank, I would need to invest in major renovations. I wasn’t happy with the idea of spending my money on home improvements for someone else to enjoy. I also didn’t like the idea of an open-house, negotiations and weeks or even months of hassle. After thinking over different options, I decided to seek out a cash offer. I avoided the process of finding a real estate agent, passing inspections and the risk of financing falling through. I was able to sell the house in as-is condition.