The Only Acceptable Reasons To Sell A House

A big part of the American dream is becoming a homeowner. Making the transition from being a tenant to becoming someone who can rightfully claim a house or piece of land as their own is a major milestone, one that many of us proudly look forward to. After all, it’s the end result of many years of hard work and sacrifice. 

However, as with all things in life, there are moments when you and your family will have to make the decision to put that hard-earned home up for sale. While ideally, this wouldn’t happen, you need to be aware of a few points in the event that it does. 

The following are the only reasons you should ever consider selling your house, and a few guidelines to keep in mind.

Strong Housing Market

If you reside in Houston, Texas or anywhere else where the housing market is booming and you feel that your property’s value has gone up, then selling your old home and buying a new one might be a very smart plan. However, the most important thing to remember when selling your house is to research the market well and seek expert guidance. There are very specific instances wherein putting your home on the market can be deeply detrimental to you and your family, so don’t risk your future security. 

Needing a Bigger Home

Sometimes, a family grows too fast and it becomes abundantly clear that the current house will not meet the needs of all its inhabitants. This is a fairly regular occurrence in America, and it is why the citizens of this country tend to be so restless and hop from one home to the next. If you worry that your family is outgrowing your house, then it might very well be time to sell it. 

Accepting a New Job

Now more than ever, Americans take on new jobs in different states all the time, which necessitates a move. While no one likes to uproot their entire family and dive into a completely new neighborhood, it can be worth it if the professional and financial gains are high. While one solution could be to sublet your home for a while instead of letting it go altogether, it remains a risky proposition as you need to be able to afford to do that both monetarily and emotionally since you’ll be dividing your world in two. This one requires some serious contemplation, but with a bit of research, you can come to the conclusion that works best for you and your family.

Changes in the Neighborhood

Unfortunately, a few years after moving into the idyllic home of your dreams, you might notice a few issues with the neighborhood’s infrastructure. Whether it is an issue of roads not being safe enough, the quality of education deteriorating, crime rates going up – it can be a mixed bag of factors that significantly impinge on your daily life. Therefore, selling your house and moving to another is definitely an insane decision to make.

When the Upkeep Becomes Exhausting

In some cases, people realize a bit too late that they plunked down a pretty penny for a less than perfect home. It could be that cracks started to appear in the walls, a staggering problem with the roof that became harder to ignore, or maybe the furnace stopped working and the winters feel extra bitter as a result. After doing the math and figuring out how much all the repairs and maintenance could cost, the homeowner might figure it’s time to sell and bail out before things get dicey. This may be a compelling reason to sell the house, especially if the owner has managed to consult with real estate experts and knows that they won’t be losing money on their initial investment. 

Desperate Times

While not ideal, some homeowners realize that their place is worth a ton of money and that they might need the extra cash to invest elsewhere. Whether it’s to pay off debt incurred by a health emergency or to grab some liquidity to pay for their kids’ college education, selling the house can offer an easy out. It feels financially expedient to use those funds and take advantage of high property values. So, as the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures, and if you’re lucky enough to own a piece of valuable property, then taking advantage of the circumstances can be beneficial.

The Jeffersons would probably agree that the only viable reason to sell off a home is if you are moving on up in some shape or form. Whether you are looking for extra liquidity to invest, buy a bigger home, pay up some urgent debts, etc., selling is something that you should only do in exchange for a tangible benefit. So always make sure to research your options well before putting your home on the market.

 

Cyndy Lane
 

Cyndy is business journalist with a focus on entrepreneurship and small business. With over a decade of experience covering the startup and small business landscape, Cyndy has a reputation for being a knowledgeable, insightful and approachable journalist. She has a keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing small business owners and is able to explain them in a way that is relatable and actionable for her readers.