Not every seller is comfortable with for sale by owner negotiations, and that's one of the reasons most sellers hire an agent.

There are times when it’s an advantage not to have a real estate license. Decades ago, just before I received my license, selling my own home as a for sale by owner was one of those times. That's because I used my negotiation knowledge and offered to help the buyer write the purchase contract. It meant I could write the contract in my favor, which I couldn't really do if I had a real estate license.

Sometimes, though, neither party is represented by a real estate agent. In that event, one of you should know how to negotiate an offer, and it may as well be you, the For Sale By Owner. Apart from making sure your buyer is able to secure financing, you may also accept a deposit . . . read more about For Sale By Owner Negotiation.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub:

• Contingent on Seller Finding a New Home
  
• Contingent on Buyer Selling Present Home
  
• Selling and Buying at the Same Time

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There is a lot of misinformation and short sale myths floating around in the industry today.

From agents who don't sell short sales claiming any moron / agent can do it to those who won't touch a short sale with a 10-foot pole because they're afraid. Don't make the mistake of believing that short sales aren't complicated, because some of them can be extremely difficult and convoluted to close.

However, fear or ignorance is no reason to avoid a short sale. Some of the best deals for buyers in today's real estate market can be found in a short sale . . . read more about Short Sale Myths.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub:

• How to Do a Short Sale
  
• 6 Things to Know Before Buying a Short Sale
  
• Waiting for Short Sale Approval

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The time to apply for a home equity loan is when you don't need it and rates are low.

Home owners often lament, "I've got a lot of equity but it's not in my pocket." One way to put that equity into your pocket is to sell. Another is to refinance your existing loan with a new, larger loan. The third option, which many people forget to consider, is to take out a home equity loan.

Home equity loans are junior, second to and subordinate to the existing first mortgage. Because they are smaller loans, typically home owners will pay smaller fees, if any, to tap that equity . . . read more about a home equity loan.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub:

• Where to Get a Mortgage
  
• Questions to Ask Your Mortgage Lender
  
• Repairs Before Resale

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When you have a home to sell before you can buy another, it can be scary to receive notice of first right of refusal.

Sellers generally don’t advertise that a contingent offer is acceptable. In fact, some won’t even consider a contingent offer — meaning the buyer needs to sell an existing home before the buyer can fulfill the terms of the contract to purchase — because they don’t understand how first right of refusal works.

In most cases, it’s no skin off the seller’s nose to accept a contingent offer. Sometimes it’s the motivation needed for another buyer to submit an offer to purchase. Why? Because the desirability of a home seems to go up when somebody else wants it.

Some types of contingent contracts allow the seller to give the buyer first right of refusal when another offer is received or the seller may be free to sell to the second buyer . . . read more about First Right of Refusal.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub:

• Should You Buy a Home Before Selling?
  
• Types of Contract Contingencies
  
• Top 3 Offer Negotiation Tips

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