Bray - Selling your house: Nolos essential guide

In Nolo you can trust.
THE NEW YORK TIMES

Nolo is always there in a jam as the nations premier publisher of do-it-yourself legal books.
NEWSWEEK

Nolo publications... guide people simply through the how, when, where and why of the law.
THE WASHINGTON POST

[Nolos]... material is developed by experienced attorneys who have a knack for making complicated material accessible.
LIBRARY JOURNAL

When it comes to self-help legal stuff, nobody does a better job than Nolo...
USA TODAY

The most prominent U.S. publisher of self-help legal aids.
TIME MAGAZINE

Nolo is a pioneer in both consumer and business self-help books and software.
LOS ANGELES TIMES

2nd Edition

Ilona Bray, J.D.

Names: Bray, Ilona M., 1962- author.

Title: Selling your house : Nolos essential guide / Ilona Bray, J.D.

Description: Second Edition. | Berkeley, CA : Nolo, 2017. | Revised edition of the authors Selling your house, 2015. | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016031707 (print) | LCCN 2016036595 (ebook) | ISBN 9781413323511 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781413323528 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: House selling--United States. | Residential real estate--United States.

Classification: LCC HD259 .B733 2017 (print) | LCC HD259 (ebook) | DDC 643/.120973--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016031707

This book covers only United States law, unless it specifically states otherwise.

Copyright 2015 and 2017 by Nolo. All rights reserved. The NOLO trademark is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Printed in the U.S.A.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission. Reproduction prohibitions do not apply to the forms contained in this product when reproduced for personal use. For information on bulk purchases or corporate premium sales, please contact the Special Sales Department. Call 800-955-4775 or write to Nolo, 950 Parker Street, Berkeley, California 94710.

Please note

We believe accurate, plain-English legal information should help you solve many of your own legal problems. But this text is not a substitute for personalized advice from a knowledgeable lawyer. If you want the help of a trained professionaland well always point out situations in which we think thats a good ideaconsult an attorney licensed to practice in your state.

Is there any one person in the United States who can fully and accurately describe everything involved in selling a house? Doubtful. The process involves a mix of wisdom and skills: marketing, finance, law, negotiation, interior decorating, and much more. And just when you think you know a thing or two, the real estate or financial market changes.

Thats why, in preparing this book, we drew on numerous experienced professionals for tips and guidance, including:

Nancy Atwood, broker in Framingham, Massachusetts

Katy Ayer, CPA with Five Cities CPAs in Arroyo Grande, California ( www.5citiescpas.com/index.php )

the late George Devine, licensed real estate broker in San Francisco and author and educator in the real estate field

Marjo Diehl, loan agent and vice president with RPM Mortgage, Inc., in Alamo, California ( www.rpm-mtg.com )

Kenneth Goldstein, attorney with Goldstein & Herndon, LLP, in Brookline, Massachusetts ( www.brooklinelaw.com )

Sylvia M. Gutierrez, loan officer in the South Florida market (NMLS # 372427; sylviagutierrez.com) and author of Mortgage Matters: Demystifying the Loan Approval Maze

Rob Jensen, president and broker/owner at Rob Jensen Company, a Las Vegas brokerage agency specializing in guard-gated real estate (http://robjensen.com/)with special thanks to Rob for having spent literally hours sharing his own experience, stories, and industry knowledge

Joel G. Kinney, founder at Fort Point Legal in Boston, Massachusetts

Richard Leshnower, an attorney practicing in the state of New York

Mark Nash, Illinois real estate agent and author of 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home

Carol Neil, broker and Realtor in Berkeley, California

Greg Nino, RE/MAX Realtor in Houston, Texas ( www.everdayhoustonhomes.com )

Ann OConnell, a Colorado-based real estate broker and attorney

Janet Portman, J.D., author, and Nolo editor

Amy Robeson, real estate broker with Pacific Union in Berkeley and Oakland, California ( www.amyrobeson.com )

Paul A. Rude, retired professional inspector in Berkeley, California

Ira Serkes, agent with Pacific Union in Berkeley, California, and coauthor of Nolos How to Buy a House in California ( www.berkeleyhomes.com )

Daniel Stea, broker/owner/attorney at Stea Realty Group, in Berkeley, California ( www.stearealtygroup.com )

Ngaire Taylor, loan officer with Eagle Home Mortgage in Lynnwood, Washington ( www.eaglehomemortgage.com ), and

Patricia and David Wangsness, Realtors with Coldwell Banker Bain Associates in Bellevue, Washington ( www.wangsnessconnections.com ).

A number of home sellers were also generous enough to tell us about their experiences and let us publish their accounts, including Cathy Caputo, Wren Conroy, Linda Garey, Carter Wall, Kyung Yu, and others who wished to remain anonymous.

Here at Nolo, special thanks go to Legal Editor Kathleen Michon, who provided not only masterful editing of the first edition but expert advice on consumer credit and secured transaction matters; Acquisitions Editor Marcia Stewart, who made sure this book became a possibility and offered numerous substantive ideas and additions; former editor Alayna Schroeder, who provided some of the research and material that eventually found its way into this book; Legal Editor Cara ONeill, who helped prepare the second edition; and Nolos Production Department, including Jaleh Doane and Susan Putney, who made the final version look great.

Ilona Bray is an author and legal editor at Nolo, specializing in real estate, immigration law, and nonprofit fundraising. She is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) and coauthor of Nolos Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home, First-Time Landlord: Your Guide to Renting Out a Single-Family Home