I don’t really know how to put this into words without it sounding heavier than I want it to, but I need to sell my place as soon as possible.
I’ve recently been diagnosed with cancer…. So.. after the breaking news I’ve decided to move in with my parents. It just makes sense and they can help take care of me, and it’s also much closer to a good clinic where I’ll be getting treatment.
I looked into how everything is going to be covered financially, and while I do have insurance, I heard a lot of stories that it doesn’t always take care of everything once things get complicated and it made me thinking
I’m considering selling my house to make sure I have enough set aside for treatment and whatever comes next. And I think that I can figure out the rest later. Meanwhile it feels like right now I need to simplify things and focus on getting through this
I saw one of those kind house buyer options that supposedly can close quickly without all the usual waiting around, showings, and uncertainty. I’m not sure yet if that’s the right choice, but speed is definitely a big factor for me right now
Just trying to make the most practical decision in a situation that doesn’t feel very practical at all
Need to sell my house fast after a cancer diagnosis and trying to focus on treatment, not real estate
byu/melifer inpersonalfinance
Posted by melifer
16 Comments
It only takes a month or two to sell a house normally.
That’s about half as long as it takes to actually get a medical bill.
You don’t need to rush to sell your house
You can just price it a little lower than comps and you’ll make a lot more than than dealing with those we buy ugly houses predators
Medical is billed and late payments don’t affect your credit score. You have lots of time to sell.
Real estate agents are who you want to speak with, not finance.
I’d focus on finding a good agent who will make it just as easy on you as those “sell your house with just a phone call” people.
A good listing agent will understand your situation and will take care of EVERYTHING. It’ll just be longer till you receive your funds from the sale, and you’ll make much more.
Not sure how recently you were diagnosed, but it’s a good idea to pause on major life decisions while processing a big diagnosis like that. As others have said, your house will likely sell quickly and medical billing is very slow.
You don’t need to rush it, stay away from the fly by night house scams. List the house, price it right, move in with parents and do what you gotta do
Depending on where you live it might still be a sellers market meaning you can get a good offer and close in a couple months. Don’t panic sell. Hire a good realtor and let them earn their commission. You focus on your health.
What’s the real estate market like where you live? If it’s a sellers market you’ll hav people lined up with cash at your first open house.
You don’t need to worry about selling your house right away. My dad survived cancer three times so far since I was in first grade. My aunt survived it twice. My sister’s friend survived for ten years. They all kept their houses and even kept working.
It’s scary and it is hard but I wouldn’t make any huge choices right now. I’ve had friends who were given 6 months to live and were cancer free in a year and have been fine for years. Some of these people had great insurance and some of them had none.
You might lose more money from rushing it. You don’t need all that money immediately. Bills take a while to come in and go to collections.
If you’re really worried and trust your parents maybe it’d be easier to give them power of attorney or whatever kind of status that would help them be able to act on your behalf if needed.
Wishing you a speedy recovery tho! Cancer treatment has a come a long way ❤️
Don’t rush the sale. But talk to the real estate agent and let them know you’re dealing with treatment and need an agent to can take the reins. You are happy to give them keys and they can do whatever showings they want but you won’t be able to meet and let people in. Also let them know you’re moving in with your parents so you’re not contingent on buying a new house and you’ll be moved out as of (whenever).
There are a lot of agents out there that expect the seller to do nearly everything and they just collect the 6%, weed those people out and find a good agent and let them do the work.
You’ll get the sale before you owe that much.
Not sure where you live – but in my area (DC metro) it’s 100% still a sellers market. Get an experienced realtor to help you with all the contracts and logistics. You can ask for anything you want including a 15 day close. If you price it below market it will move. Good luck.
We sold our house in 36 hours. Again, hot market but still. Priced to sell is your best bet for a quick move.
Additionally, important questions to ask-
If you think you may need help with health insurance on the future, like getting state or Medicaid coverage, often a primary residence isn’t counted against you as an asset, but a lump of money in the bank would be. Worth investigating before making big decisions.
I wish you the best with your treatment. Good luck. I’m glad you have supportive family in a good location.
Is this a terminal diagnosis? Might you possibly be cancer free in 12-24 months? Rent out your place maybe. Could even see some additional income. If the worst happens then you can leave the asset to someone. If the best happens you can “go home”.
I’d avoid the fast sellers, they always give you like a 60% value offer and depending on your location and you probably won’t get a medical bill until a normal sales cycle of 4-8 weeks is done. Price it at 10% off if you need to move quick.
I don’t know what the rest of your assets and debts look like but, depending what state you live in, you may be able to protect your home equity via a homestead exemption in the event this becomes a bankruptcy situation.
Those quick no hassle cash close places will buy your house fast and with no hassle for a 20+% discount. A Realtor can advise you on a pricing strategy that will allow a quick sale. 95% of market value is much better for you than 75%.