So you feel like it’s time to move, but you keep asking yourself, Am I ready to sell my house? After all, there’s so much history packed inside those four walls—not to mention, it’s the most expensive possession you own.
Asking yourself if you’re ready to sell is an important question to answer since selling at the wrong time can cause trouble for years to come. But no worries. We’ll help you walk through everything you need to consider so you can have full confidence that you’re ready to sell.
Let’s get started!
7 Signs You’re Ready to Sell Your House
The decision to sell your house isn’t based solely on market conditions. You have to take your personal situation into account—and that’s where expert advice comes in handy.
Here are seven signs you’re ready to sell your house:
1. You’ve got equity on your side.
For most homeowners, being financially ready to sell your house comes down to one factor: equity. During the housing meltdown of 2008–09, millions of homeowners found themselves with negative equity, which meant they owed more on their homes than they were worth.
Find expert agents to help you sell your home.
Clearly, selling your home when you have negative equity is a bad deal. That’s called a short sale. Breaking even on your home sale is better, but it’s still not ideal. If you’re in either situation, don’t sell unless you have to in order to avoid bankruptcy or foreclosure.
For the last several years, home values have been on the rise and that means most homeowners are building equity. Their homes are now worth more than they owe on them, and that trend will persist as they pay down their mortgages and home values continue to increase.
Figuring out how much equity you have may sound complicated, but the math is actually simple. Here’s how it works:
First, grab your latest mortgage statement and find your current mortgage balance.
Next, you’ll need to know your home value. While it’s tempting to use figures from online valuation sites to determine how much your home is worth, they’re not always accurate. If you’re considering selling, ask an experienced real estate agent to run a free comparative market analysis (CMA) for the best estimate.
Once you have those two numbers in hand, simply subtract your current mortgage balance from your home’s estimated market value. The difference will give you a good idea of how much equity you have to work with.
So how much equity is enough? At the very least you want to have enough equity to pay off your current mortgage with enough left over to provide a 20% down payment on your next home. But if your sale can also cover your closing costs, moving expenses and an even larger down payment—that’s even better.
Plus, putting 20% or more down on a home keeps private mortgage insurance (PMI) at bay. That could save you hundred—or even thousands—of dollars each year!
2. You’re out of debt with cash in the bank.
If you didn’t have all your financial ducks in a row your first time around the home-buying block, you probably learned a few things the hard way. Like the fact that Murphy can smell “broke” from miles away. If it can go wrong, it will! Put those lessons to good use and be a money-smart home buyer the next go-round!
Start by taking a hard look at your finances. If you’ve paid off all your nonmortgage debt and have three to six months of expenses in your emergency fund, that’s a good sign you’re financially secure enough to purchase a home again.
3. You can afford to buy a home that fits your lifestyle better.
Another factor to consider is how well your home meets your everyday needs. Perhaps you could use another bedroom (or even two) for your growing family. Or maybe your kids have all moved out and you’re ready to downsize. It’s freeing to sell a large home, pay cash for a smaller one, and invest the rest for your retirement.
Whether you’re sizing up or down, make sure your mortgage fits your budget. We recommend keeping your monthly payment to 25% or less of your take-home pay on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage.
4. You can cash flow the move.
Don’t get so carried away by the excitement of your next home that you forget to account for the cost of moving out of your current one. Hiring professional movers? Save up cash to cover the cost of packing up and hauling your stuff away.
You should also invest a little to stage your home so that it’s ready for prime time. Focus your home improvement dollars on paint, curb appeal, plus kitchen and bath upgrades. A little bit of fresh paint and elbow grease can go a long way into making a great impression—and getting your home sold fast!
Want a bonus tip that doesn’t cost a dime? Clear out the clutter. Neat closets and tidy shelves make your home look larger!
5. You’re emotionally ready to sell.
If the numbers show you’re financially ready to make a move, great! But don’t forget—selling your home is an emotional issue too. Before you plant the “For Sale” sign in the front yard, take a minute to answer just a few more questions:
- Are you ready to put in the work to get your house ready for house hunters?
- Are you committed to keeping it ready to show for weeks or months?
- Are you ready to hear the reasons why potential buyers believe your home is not perfect?
- Are you ready for honest—and sometimes hardball—negotiations over what buyers are willing to pay for your home?
- Are you really ready to move out and leave the place where your family has made memories?
Don’t get us wrong—we’re not trying to talk you out of selling your home! We just want you to be completely ready when you do decide to move on to the next stage of your family’s life.
A qualified real estate agent will give you a clear picture of what it’s like to sell your house, and also help you decide if now is the right time for you, both financially and emotionally.
6. You understand the market (a little bit).
No one can predict how the housing market will perform with 100% accuracy. But you can get an idea of what you might experience when selling your home based on things like housing inventory, for example. Ask a real estate agent if the number of homes for sale in your area has been going up or down in the past month or so.
If inventory is decreasing, your competition might be lower when selling your home. And that means you can probably sell your house for more money and have plenty of offers to choose from. On the flip side, if housing inventory is increasing, the added competition might make it take a little longer to sell your home.
7. You have a real estate agent.
Okay, maybe all the signs are saying it’s time to get your home on the market. Just remember that your real estate market is unique—and so is your financial situation. Consult an experienced real estate agent to find out how the current housing market is shaping up in your area so you can decide if a sale makes financial sense for your family.
Partner with a pro you can trust to provide honest advice so you can do what’s best for you and your budget. A good agent puts service before sales—but knows how to get things done when it’s time to sell.
A real estate agent does more than just schedule showings of your home. They bring experience and confidence to the table when they handle their many job duties, which include:
- Giving you advice about updates or repairs that will make your home more attractive
- Helping you set the right price for your home
- Marketing your home so it receives as much exposure to potential buyers as possible
- Scheduling showings with potential buyers
- Advising you as you negotiate offers
- Handling all the required paperwork
