Selling my home

[KC]

I need to sell my home and I am having a hard time. We had the home for sale for over a year and not one person came to look at it. It was for sale through our community office. When I called, she said she sells several a month, but she never once brought someone to our home to even look at it. I really feel like the community is trying to get us to give up our home. If we do just give up the home, what will happen? We tried getting a renter in but the community sent an eviction notice to the house because it violates our agreement. We can not afford to pay to mortgages and this house is really becoming a hassle. Please advise me.

[Lynn]

Why not list you home for sale through a local realtor or do a for sale by owner? I would be surprised if the community would be trying to get you to give up your home. The home would go back to the finance company, not the community. That would mean another site that the community is not getting rent on, since some (not all) finance companies have deals in which they get free rent while the home is vacant. This is not a good situation for the community. I am sure the community would prefer to have a good resident in the home who pays rent on time and keeps the home and lot in good condition.

[Mark]

For Sale by Owner is a good idea. I've sold several mobile homes just by putting a sign in the window. You could also try a newspaper ad. We have something called the Little Nickel, a free, classified ad only newspaper. I've gotten a lot of calls on the ads I placed there, but every house I've sold came from a drive-by. If no one can pay cash for your house, check with your lender to see if your loan is assumable. Otherwise, you may want to consider selling the house and carrying the note yourself. I'd ask for a 10% downpayment. You can find free amortization tables on the web just by doing a Google search on the term "amortization tables," and use the calculators there to produce a payment schedule. Make sure you make your buyer apply to the park first and get approved; no sense wasting your time if the buyer can't get into the park. Good luck!

[Lynnkei]

How does "selling the house and carrying the note yourself" work? I have a 1999 Palm Harbor 3/2 and I still owe $53k on a 30-yr note! I have a sign in the window, but when people call and hear the amount I get, "uh...okay, thanks - click."

[chrissy]

First, be sure your lender will allow you to sell your home on a land contract arrangement. Secondly, remember that even if you do, you are still the one who is responsible for paying the house payment and if it is in a community for paying the rent. So alternative living arrangements for you must include the financial ability to shoulder your current living costs.

That said, remember that sales are emotional. If you are unhappy about your home, or living arrangements and you allow that attitude to come through when you talk to potential buyers they do not see the value in your home. Be upbeat and positive about your home, the features it contains and the benefit it brings to a new owner.

Next - think about answering the phone. If you give them all of the information over the phone, there is no reason for them to come out. If they don't come out, they can't fall in love with your home. Don't give out the price on the phone. Tell them it is open for negotiation. Instead, talk about the home, the features, the location, and the wonderful lifestyle they will enjoy. Invite them out. They need to feel your home as their home - and that means an in-perosn visit.