ArroyoLaRue Realty

Selling a House With a Mortgage

Selling a home with a mortgage is becoming increasingly common. In fact, according to recent statistics, about 60% of homes have mortgages on them, so you can expect that about 60% of sellers are selling a house with a mortgage.

Does that make it a great option for you? It depends! It’s possible, for sure, and in some cases, it can be a great move depending on the market and the value of your home.

If you’re wondering about how to sell a house with a mortgage or if it’s the right financial decision for you then keep reading. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know.

Can You Sell a House With a Mortgage?

This is a common question among those who are thinking about selling a home with a mortgage. The answer is yes, you can sell a house with a mortgage.

However, there are a few general things you need to know before selling your house. 

Namely, you will need to get approval from your lender. They may require you to sell the house for a certain price or may allow you to list it for whatever price you choose.

Then, you will need to find a buyer who is willing to assume your mortgage. This can be done through a real estate agent or by contacting potential buyers directly. 

Finally, you will need to work with your lender to close on the sale of the house. Once the sale is complete, the new owner will assume your mortgage and you will be free of your financial obligation.

While we’ve just made it sound super simple, it’s a bit more detailed than that. Let’s break the process up into what you can do to prepare to sell your mortgaged house and then what to expect during the process.

What To Do Before Selling Your Home

Unless you have paid cash for your home, you will likely have a mortgage when you go to sell it. Selling a home with a mortgage is not much different from selling any other type of property, but there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Check Your Home’s Value

It’s always a good idea to know how much your home is worth before you start the selling process. This will give you a better understanding of what you can realistically expect to get for your home and help ensure that you price it correctly from the outset. 

There are a number of ways to find out your home’s value, including online valuation tools and asking a real estate agent for comparative market analysis. Keep in mind that it’s a seller’s market right now, so a cash offer might be ultimately better and easier.

Contact a Lender to Find Your Mortgage Debt Amount

Now you will need to contact a lender to find out how much money you owe on your mortgage. This information will be important for negotiations with potential buyers. 

It’s also a good idea to have an idea of what your monthly mortgage payments are so that you can accurately compare offers from buyers. Once you have this information, you can begin the process of marketing your home and negotiating with buyers.

Estimate Your Net Profit

Your net profit is what’s left over after you pay off your mortgage, any liens against your property, real estate commissions, and other selling expenses. 

Estimating your net profit will give you a good idea of how much money you’ll have to work with after you sell your home. You can use this information to help you make decisions about where to live, how to invest the money or anything else you might want to do with it. 

To estimate your net profit, start by finding out how much your mortgage balance is and what the interest rate is. Then, subtract any liens against your property and real estate commissions from the sale price of your home. 

Any other selling expenses, such as repairs or marketing costs, should also be deducted. What’s left is your net profit. 

Keep in mind that this is just an estimate; your actual net profit may be different depending on the final sale price of your home and other factors.

Find a Great Real Estate Agent

Finding a great real estate agent should be at the top of your list. A good agent will have extensive knowledge of the local market and will be able to help you price your home correctly. 

They’ll also be able to provide guidance on preparing your home for showings and can answer any questions you have along the way.

In addition to finding the right real estate agent, you’ll need to prepare your home for showings, price it correctly, and navigate the closing process. 

Preparing your home for showings means decluttering, deep cleaning, and maybe even making some cosmetic upgrades. The goal is to make your home as appealing as possible to potential buyers. First impressions matter, so take the time to make sure your home is looking its best.

After setting a price (which we’ll get into below), be prepared for some back-and-forth during negotiations. It’s not unusual for buyers to try to lowball their initial offer, so be prepared to counter. 

Once you’ve reached an agreement on price, there are still a few more steps in the process, but you’re well on your way to selling your home successfully.

Set a Price for Your Home

Pricing your home correctly is critical to getting a good return on your investment. Work with your real estate agent to come up with a competitive listing price. They’ll be able to provide market data and insights that can help you arrive at the right number.

Why is this such an important step in the process? You want to get the most money possible. However, you don’t want to price yourself out of the market.

In addition, it’s important to make sure that your home is in good condition before putting it on the market. Buyers will be looking for any signs of problems, so it’s worth taking the time to make repairs and updates as needed.

Accept and Offer & Open Escrow

Accepting an offer on your home is just the beginning of the end of the selling process. Once you have an accepted offer, you will need to open escrow. Escrow is a process where a neutral third party holds onto important documents and funds related to a real estate transaction. 

This ensures that both the buyer and the seller fulfil their obligations in a timely manner. Opening escrow can be done through a title company, real estate attorney, or escrow agent. 

The first step is to choose which party you would like to hold onto the funds and documents. Next, you will need to fill out some paperwork and provide any necessary documentation. 

Once everything is in order, you will sign the escrow agreement and the transaction will be official.

What to Know About Selling a House With a Mortgage

Home selling tips are pretty similar for mortgaged houses, right? Pretty munch. However, there are a few key differences. Mostly, there are some obstacles you might encounter on the way. Here are a few of the most common we’ve seen.

Look for Due-On-Sale Clauses

You’ll want to look for due-on-sale clauses in your mortgage paperwork. Due-on-sale clauses protect lenders by requiring homeowners to pay their mortgage loan in full after selling their home or transferring their deed to someone else. 

This means that if you sell your home without paying off your mortgage, the lender can demand that the new owner pay the loan in full or they may foreclose on the property. 

If you have a due-on-sale clause in your mortgage, be sure to factor this into your plans when you’re ready to sell. You may need to refinance your loan or get permission from your lender before you can sell.

If that’s the case then you’ll need to get in touch with your lender and let them know. They’ll want to ensure that your loan is paid in full before someone else moves into your home, and will likely need some information about your buyer’s mortgage lender. 

However, under most circumstances, they cannot tell you to whom you can or can’t sell your home.

Ensure There Are No Issues With Your Property Title

One important thing to keep in mind when selling a house with a mortgage is to ensure there are no issues with your property title. 

This is because if there are any liens or encumbrances on the property, they will need to be paid off in full before the sale can be completed. 

In addition, it’s important to be aware of any outstanding property taxes or homeowner association dues that may be owed. These will also need to be paid in full before the sale can proceed. 

If you’re selling a house with a mortgage, it’s worth checking with your lender to obtain permission to sell the property and determine what, if any, restrictions there may be on the sale.

Be Aware of Fees for Prepaying for a Mortgage

Finally, be aware of any fees associated with prepaying for your mortgage. These can vary from lender to lender, so it’s important to do your research ahead of time. 

FAQs About Selling a Home With a Mortgage

Still have questions about how to sell a house with a mortgage? We have answers!

Who Is Responsible for the Mortage During the Sale of a Home?

When you sell your home, you are still responsible for the mortgage until it is paid off in full. This means that if the buyer does not make the payments, you are still on the hook. That said, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself. 

First, you can require that the buyer provide evidence of their ability to make the payments. This could be in the form of a bank statement or a letter from their employer. Second, you can insist on a larger down payment. This will give you some cushion in case the buyer falls behind. 

Finally, you can consider signing a promissory note. This is a legal document that states that the buyer is responsible for the debt. If they default, you can take them to court to get your money back. 

In short, while you are responsible for the mortgage during the sale of your home, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.

Can I Sell a Home That’s Underwater?

When a home is worth less than the mortgage balance, it’s considered to be “underwater.” This can happen for a number of reasons, such as a decrease in the value of the property or an increase in the amount of the outstanding debt. 

If you want to sell your underwater home, you may have to do a “short sale.” A short sale is when the lender agrees to accept less than what is owed on the mortgage. 

For example, if you owe $200,000 on your mortgage and your home is only worth $180,000, you would need to find a buyer who is willing to pay $180,000 for the property. The lender would then forgive the remaining $20,000 balance on the loan.

If you’re considering a short sale, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, a short sale will likely damage your credit score. Second, a short sale may not be the best option if you plan on buying another home in the near future. 

And finally, a short sale can be a lengthy and stressful process. If you’re not sure whether a short sale is right for you, it’s important to speak with a qualified real estate professional or financial advisor who can help you weigh your options.

Is It Bad to Sell a Home Before It’s Paid Off?

It’s not “bad.” There are just pros and cons.

On the one hand, you may be able to sell your home for more than you owe on the mortgage, which can give you a nice profit. On the other hand, if the housing market is down, you may end up selling your home for less than you owe, which could put you in debt. 

If you’re thinking about selling your home before it’s paid off, it’s important to weigh all of your options carefully before making a decision.

Get a Cash Offer for Your Home

Want to skip the headache of selling a house with a mortgage and see what you could get with a cash offer? Enter your home address here, and see what we can offer you. If you like the offer, we could buy your home with no showings, no repairs, and no headaches.

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