Although a home seller wants to enjoy a quick, seamless home selling experience, problems sometimes can arise along the way. And if a home seller is not careful, these issues may cause him or her to encounter one of the dreaded home selling worst-case scenarios.

Ultimately, there are many home selling worst-case scenarios that a seller should try to avoid at all costs, and these scenarios include:

1. A home is priced too high.

A home seller should establish a competitive price for his or her residence from the get-go. Because failure to do so could force a residence to linger on the housing market for weeks, months or years.

To determine a competitive price, it helps to conduct plenty of real estate market research. Looking at the prices of recently sold houses in your city or town can help you determine whether you're preparing to enter a buyer's or seller's market. Also, examining the prices of comparable houses in your area can help you narrow your price range.

Furthermore, a property appraisal is a viable option for all home sellers, at all times. During an appraisal, a home expert will assess your residence and provide a property valuation. Then, you can use the property valuation to price your home accordingly.

2. A homebuyer requests a price reduction or major repairs after an inspection.

A home inspection generally takes place a few days after a seller accepts a buyer's offer on a residence. If this inspection reveals a wide array of home problems, it could jeopardize a potential sale.

It often helps to complete a home inspection before listing a residence. This inspection allows a seller to identify any home problems and resolve these issues immediately.

In addition, a home seller should understand his or her options after an inspection that reveals myriad home problems.

If a buyer requests a price reduction or home repairs after an inspection, a seller can agree to the buyer's terms or counter a buyer's proposal. Or, if a seller feels a buyer is being unreasonable, he or she can walk away from a home sale and relist his or her residence.

3. A home seller hires a real estate agent who lacks comprehensive industry experience.

If a seller hires a real estate agent who lacks comprehensive industry experience, he or she risks a long, arduous home selling experience.

There is no need to hire an inexperienced real estate agent. In fact, dozens of top-notch real estate agents are available nationwide, and these housing market professionals can help you achieve your home selling goals in no time at all.

The ideal real estate agent will know the ins and outs of the housing market. Plus, he or she will be able to guide you along each stage of the home selling journey and do whatever it takes to promote your residence to the right groups of buyers.

Enjoy a fast, profitable and worry-free home selling experience – consider the aforementioned home selling worst-case scenarios, and you can minimize risk throughout the home selling journey.

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For years home ownership has been the American dream, but, according to the Pew Research Center, a higher percentage of us are renters than at any other time in the last 50 years. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. For many people renting may be the right choice. Every individual and family needs to consider all the factors and make the decision that’s right for them.

The Financial Consideration

There’s a rule of thumb called the price to rent ratio. You get it by dividing the price of a house by the annual rent. For example, if you can buy a house for $300,000 or rent it for $1500 per month, the ratio is 300,000 / (12 * 1500), or 16.7. When the number is 15 or less, buying is the better choice, when it’s 16 to 20, renting becomes more favorable and when it’s over 20 renting is significantly better. However, this fails to take in factors like down payment amount, financing terms, taxes, insurance and other costs, which can vary widely. A more accurate number, telling you how long it will take to cover the up-front costs of ownership and pull even financially with renting, can be found using one of many calculators available.

The Other Considerations

While this sort of calculation is valuable, there are other questions, both financial and lifestyle-related, that the potential renter or buyer must ask.

• What can I spend upfront for down payment and closing costs?

• Can I afford a major repair such as replacing a furnace or air conditioner? There are insurance-like plans to defray some of that cost, but those make up another annual expense.

• How long do I plan to stay? Selling a home and buying a new one is costly and time-consuming.

• Which is more important to me, stability or flexibility?

Advantages of Home Ownership

As the inheritor of the American dream, the homeowner has some opportunities and privileges that the renter can’t enjoy.

• Appreciation and equity. As home value rises and morgage balance drops, homeowners gain equity, which for many is their most valuable asset.

• Building credit.

• Freedom to remodel. There’s no landlord telling you what you can and can’t do with your property.

• Stable monthly payments. Taxes and insurance can increase, but principal and interest payment remains the same. If you stay there long enough, eventually you’ll have no principal/interest to pay at all.

• Tax advantage. For most people, it isn’t what it was before the 2017 tax changes, but interest and taxes may still be deductible.

• Stability. You can become a member of your neighborhood and your children can stay in the same school system. No landlord can decide to sell and give you notice.

Advantages of Renting

• No large upfront expenses.

• Your landlord is responsible for major repairs.

• Still some opportunity to build credit by paying rent promptly.

• You have less at risk. You won’t be affected if property values fall.

• Flexibility. If you choose to move you can easily give notice and do so.

Here’s one last question: which feels better, the satisfaction of owning your own castle or the freedom to change your life quickly? The answer may go a long way toward pointing you in the right direction.

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Photo by Vincent Rivaud from Pexels

When you buy a luxury home, you have several options when it comes to paying for the home. While some luxury buyers invest fully in the home and purchase outright, most find that opting for a mortgage of some type keeps options open and reserves capital for other things. Mortgages can be used for high end homes, but not all products are available -- or useful -- for this luxury space. Whether you are buying or selling, knowing what to expect when it comes to financing can help you strike the perfect deal. 

 Conventional Mortgages

Depending on where you live and the cost of the high end home, a conventional mortgage could be all you need. In parts of the country where a huge home in pristine condition still falls within the guidelines of a complying mortgage, this may be your best option. While it may not always work for you, exploring the conventional financing options is an ideal first step. 

Conventional loans are conforming loans – that fall within a specific set of guidelines. You can use a conventional loan for your own residence or for a vacation or investment home. Opting for this type of mortgage could result in lower costs to you (if you have at least 20% equity, you can avoid PMI). If the mortgage for your prospective home is under the limit of $453,100, then you can choose a conventional loan for your home.

That $453,100 limit is for mortgages in most areas, but a few select zip codes in the US allow for an even larger limit. In these high end locations, the limit for a conventional loan is much higher: $679,650. These limits are not the cost of the home itself, but the amount that you can borrow and still qualify for the conventional, conforming loan.

Jumbo Loans

When a conventional loan isn't quite right, or the loan amount for the home in question is over the stated conventional limits of $453 or $679K, then a jumbo loan will work best. These loans are designed for expensive, high end homes and properties and may have more stringent requirements when it comes to down payment amounts and the assets that need to remain on hand after the home purchase.

Aside from the differences in the amount of the loan, a jumbo loan works in a way that is very similar to a conventional loan. Expect to go through an underwriting process, to supply proof of income and to shop around for the best possible rates when you choose this option. 

No matter what product you choose, expect a luxury home mortgage to follow similar steps to a conventional one. Depending on the amount borrowed and the buyer's financial health, the process could take less time than a conventional one. 

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