When you are thinking about selling your San Antonio house, be sure you know the costs to hold the property. Keeping the property might be costing you more than you think. In our latest post, we take a look at the most common holding costs homeowners face when trying to sell their homes in San Antonio.
Holding costs can quickly eat away at your bottom line when you are selling a property. Selling price is only one factor and you need to know how much you are really walking away with in the end. As long as your house is on the market, there are a number of costs you will be responsible for. When selling your house to a private buyer who requires financing, the process to sell your San Antonio house can take months, resulting in potentially thousands of dollars you will have to spend. However, when you sell your house directly to Sell My San Antonio House, the holding costs can be eliminated in only a matter of days!
Mortgage Payments
The most obvious expense is the monthly mortgage payment. Mortgage bills show up month after month whether you are living in the property, just left the property, or are working on the property. If you own a home you’re not happy with or if you are paying a loan on an underperforming rental, the hefty mortgage payment can be a lot to deal with each month. Your mortgage cost can quickly add up to several thousand dollars while you are waiting to sell. This is money you could be spending on a new property instead of the one that’s no longer working for you.
Utilities
Whether or not you are living in the home while it is up for sale, you will need to make sure the utilities are working for any potential buyer who may want to see the home. They will likely check out the light switches and the water pressure… things that can’t be done if you have turned off your utilities. Plus, you can’t really show a home in the dark!
In addition, inspectors will need the utilities on in order to do their job. These utilities are costing you money from your bottom line every time you have to pay a bill. While your bills might be lowered if you are no longer living in the home, you should still plan on paying a few hundred dollars each month to your bills.
Property Taxes
Depending on where you live, the taxes can add up fast. People living in states like Texas, New Jersey, or California will see these costs eat away at their profits even faster due to high property taxes which must be paid. You are responsible for the taxes up until the closing date.
No one wants to pay more taxes and your bill can run up quickly causing you to fall behind on taxes when you are holding on to a property. When working with a traditional buyer, the closing can take months due to the lender’s red tape. When selling directly to Sell My San Antonio House, your financial obligations to the home can end in only a matter of days.
Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners insurance is a necessary evil every homeowner is faced with. Depending on your home and policy, your insurance can help to quickly eat away at your profits. As long as you are listed as the owner, you will be responsible for the insurance costs and if you have a mortgage they will require that you maintain insurance while you own the home. You should also keep in mind that insurance will be high for landlords and vacant properties as opposed to owner-occupied properties.
Maintenance
If you decide to list your San Antonio house, your home will inevitably need maintenance work while it is listed on the MLS. The grass still needs to be cut, the house still needs to be cleaned, along with all the other little things you need to do. A good rule of thumb is to set aside 1% of the property’s value for routine maintenance and minor repairs each year. This way you aren’t blindsided by unexpected costs while trying to sell your home. And remember, the faster you sell your house, the less maintenance, and repairs you will be responsible for.
Repairs
In addition to the regular repairs and maintenance you will likely face, there is always a chance a major repair will be needed while you are waiting for a buyer. Maybe the roof starts leaking or the hot water heater blows. Things like this can be costly but should definitely be fixed in order to attract more buyers.
Anytime you own a property you will have some kind of repairs come up…this is just part of owning a home. You should always have an emergency fund set aside to deal with such expenses so you aren’t stuck with a damaged property while trying to sell it. When you sell directly to Sell My San Antonio House, all expenses are covered. Repairs and all, we buy as-is.
HOA Fees
If the property is located in a private community, you’ll be stuck with those homeowners association dues until you are no longer listed as the owner of the house. Depending on your community, HOA fees can be high, and some can change rapidly. Don’t forget to factor these costs in when it’s time to sell. Things like this can often be overlooked when trying to sell the property and then the HOA will hit you with a bill at the end.
As a homeowner in San Antonio who wants to sell, it is important you keep all of your holding costs in mind. When they are all added up, the amount can be thousands. This can severely alter how much you are making on the sale. When selling your house in San Antonio, don’t forget to account for all the holding costs. And don’t forget to find out how a direct sale of your property could be the best choice for you!