[rsmurano]

You don’t need a realtor. I sold my last home without a realtor. Post it on a couple of websites and it will sell in days. I kept the down payment, not a title company. You can go to any title company that you want to us to close on your house and get the necessary forms for free. The 2 forms we used to start the process was the sales contract and the disclosure form. I sold ours cash with no inspection. If they want an inspection, make it within 7 days and keep trying to sell your house until the inspection period is over. It’s a good idea to have a backup sale in case the 1st buyer backs out.

[Lindaws]

Get contract from title co. , have them do closing

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

You don’t need a realtor. I sold my last home without a realtor. Post it on a couple of websites and it will sell in days. I kept the down payment, not a title company. You can go to any title company that you want to us to close on your house and get the necessary forms for free. The 2 forms we used to start the process was the sales contract and the disclosure form. I sold ours cash with no inspection. If they want an inspection, make it within 7 days and keep trying to sell your house until the inspection period is over. It’s a good idea to have a backup sale in case the 1st buyer backs out.

Most experienced buyers would want the earnest money held in an escrow account by a third party, like a title company. As a buyer, I would not allow the earnest money to be held by the seller. Even when a broker sells a property, they use a third party escrow account for the earnest money.

Also, I think it is best to decide on a title company before showing the house, and use their contract documents. If you try to select or switch title companies after you already have a signed sales contract, they may not be comfortable with the contract documents that you used.

[sallyg]

Originally Posted by bowlingal

Txbob...I would not say Marsh Bend is the most desirable at all. Not even close. Why are there so many houses for sale south of 44? And these houses are only practically brand new or a couple of years old. Makes you wonder...............

We live in MB and think it's the nicest village around. Easy access to amenities, no turnpike noise (that so many people seem to think is ubiquitous), and great neighbors.

[Fastskiguy]

Originally Posted by bowlingal

Txbob...I would not say Marsh Bend is the most desirable at all. Not even close. Why are there so many houses for sale south of 44? And these houses are only practically brand new or a couple of years old. Makes you wonder...............

You can talk about Marsh Bend not being "desirable" but lots of people are getting nearly twice what they paid 2 years ago. So if you can sell your $400K designer for almost $800K.....some people are going to go for it.

Joe

[CJH929]

Originally Posted by txbob34

I am selling my designer house in Marsh Bend (south of the turnpike). My neighbors are telling me that this neighborhood is one of the most desirable in this area as its next to the softball fields and stores. They are also telling me that several people sold their homes by owner within days of advertised it and used a real estate attorney to draw up the contract.

I was told that a couple of the people who sold it on their own had consulted a Villages realtor who recommended selling their homes for considerably less than they ended up selling on the own.

Being the market is so hot at the moment. What advantage is there selling a house using a realtor vs using a real estate attorney to write the contract?

We sold our Creekside Villa by ourselves last summer.
We put a large sign in the garage window. In one day we had a buyer. No cash changed hands that day.
I went to McLin and Burnsed (above Starbucks in Lake Sumter Landing and picked up the FSBO package - no charge.
Both parties fill out their portion. We requested that they use Peninsula Title on the form and we asked for 1% earnest money which is held by McLin Burnsed.
Totally painless. 30 days later, we had our closing.

[mike1946]

I have owned for over 20 years in TV but I will still have to pay CGT on any profit 'cos I'm a Brit and not a resident ...watch out for that nasty curve fellow Brits.

[Dburesh]

You can definitely sell your home on your own...why pay the ridiculous commissions to a realtor? I've sold 2 of our villas & many homes for my friends in The Villages. I have some very good friends that are realtors & they agree that is the way to go if you are able. I used to be a real estate paralegal in Ohio & have looked into the FL law so I actually draw up the contract for you & do the negotiating(if you don't want to be involved), advertise on the free websites, conduct an open house if you need 1 for only $1,500! I also have connections with a Title Company if you need one. I used to do title work, prepare docs & perform the closings in Ohio, so I do have experience & enjoy doing it on the side, since I'm only 62 & am not able to work because of several health issues. Give me a call @ 513-222-2981 to chat! GOOD LUCK!!!

Originally Posted by txbob34

I am selling my designer house in Marsh Bend (south of the turnpike). My neighbors are telling me that this neighborhood is one of the most desirable in this area as its next to the softball fields and stores. They are also telling me that several people sold their homes by owner within days of advertised it and used a real estate attorney to draw up the contract.

I was told that a couple of the people who sold it on their own had consulted a Villages realtor who recommended selling their homes for considerably less than they ended up selling on the own.

Being the market is so hot at the moment. What advantage is there selling a house using a realtor vs using a real estate attorney to write the contract?

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by bowlingal

Txbob...I would not say Marsh Bend is the most desirable at all. Not even close. Why are there so many houses for sale south of 44? And these houses are only practically brand new or a couple of years old. Makes you wonder...............

Two Years! I bet that is exactly why some of the homes — in that nice village — are for sale. Two years is the magic timing…..if a home is the primary residence — having lived in it for two years — the seller can walk away from a closing table with a whole lot of profit — cap gains tax free — thanks to a tax law that changed in 1997.

(See post #9 where manaboutown clarifies the allowed exclusion amounts.)

Fastskiguy says basically the same thing here in his post below that applies to profit in general. Primary residence and two years is the key to getting to keep the most change though.

Boomer

Originally Posted by Fastskiguy

You can talk about Marsh Bend not being "desirable" but lots of people are getting nearly twice what they paid 2 years ago. So if you can sell your $400K designer for almost $800K.....some people are going to go for it.

Joe

[jparsoneau@aol.com]

You do not need an attorney or a real estate agent. and I see people are giving you tax advice as well which I would talk to your CPA or tax accountant about that even though it sounds correct. And all you need is the title company they will do everything for the buyer and the seller other than the contract between the two of them. But they are not a real estate agent they just do the paperwork for both parties. Be careful taking any legal advice on any Internet source
For what it’s worth I am interested in picking up a rental in the villages if you want to message me I would be more than happy to find out what you’ve got and what you’re asking?

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Most experienced buyers would want the earnest money held in an escrow account by a third party, like a title company. As a buyer, I would not allow the earnest money to be held by the seller. Even when a broker sells a property, they use a third party escrow account for the earnest money.

Also, I think it is best to decide on a title company before showing the house, and use their contract documents. If you try to select or switch title companies after you already have a signed sales contract, they may not be comfortable with the contract documents that you used.

Yeah. I cringed at that one, too. A buyer should never hand over earnest money directly to the seller. And you are also right about the documents. Using a title company for a FSBO costs a whole lot less than a real estate commission. But, even so, don’t be “penny wise and pound foolish” because that could really cause a mess. Use a title company where there will be in-house lawyers.

Boomer

[RealJudy]

It is in the buyers’ best interest to have that knowledge.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by ldovermiller

Stay away from the Village's realtors, they stuck it to me. License to steal!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My agent was wonderful...

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by txbob34

I am selling my designer house in Marsh Bend (south of the turnpike). My neighbors are telling me that this neighborhood is one of the most desirable in this area as its next to the softball fields and stores. They are also telling me that several people sold their homes by owner within days of advertised it and used a real estate attorney to draw up the contract.

I was told that a couple of the people who sold it on their own had consulted a Villages realtor who recommended selling their homes for considerably less than they ended up selling on the own.

Being the market is so hot at the moment. What advantage is there selling a house using a realtor vs using a real estate attorney to write the contract?

6% real estate commission on $100,000 is $6,000, even if the house sells for cash in a day. If your house sells for $500,000, that is $30,000 commission. That’s a lot of money to give away. But if you are going to sell it yourself, have all the forms you need on hand before you put it up, and have a real estate lawyer chosen and have a talk with him or her (and expect to pay for that), and line up an escrow company.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Dburesh

You can definitely sell your home on your own...why pay the ridiculous commissions to a realtor? I've sold 2 of our villas & many homes for my friends in The Villages. I have some very good friends that are realtors & they agree that is the way to go if you are able. I used to be a real estate paralegal in Ohio & have looked into the FL law so I actually draw up the contract for you & do the negotiating(if you don't want to be involved), advertise on the free websites, conduct an open house if you need 1 for only $1,500! I also have connections with a Title Company if you need one. I used to do title work, prepare docs & perform the closings in Ohio, so I do have experience & enjoy doing it on the side, since I'm only 62 & am not able to work because of several health issues. Give me a call @ 513-222-2981 to chat! GOOD LUCK!!!

Interesting. I understand that you don't need to be a licensed real estate agent to accept a fixed payment associated with the sale of a house. But, you may want to explain what your legal role is and whether you have a Florida license of any type, or Florida credentials, especially with respect to preparing contracts and handling a closing.