It Might Be Smart to Rent Out a House That You Can't Sell

If you can't sell your home, it might be a good time to think about whether it's smart to rent out a house.

If you ask an agent, he or she might try to talk you out of it. That's because most agents are not in the property management business. So, if they don't sell your house, they won't make any money. But, in some markets, it might make more sense to rent out the house instead of selling it.

Of course, if you're waiting for the market to turn around, it could take a long time for the market to recover. I figured out that if homes were to theoretically appreciate annually at a conservative estimate of 4% per year, a home that has lost 50% or more of its equity won't regain that "lost" equity for at least 18 years . . . read more about how to Rent Out a House.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub:

• How to Sell a Rental
  
• Alternatives to Home Selling
  
• Why Your Home Isn't Selling

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_{At the time of writing, Elizabeth Weintraub, DRE # 00697006, is a Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate in Sacramento, California.}