I get calls every day from people who are trying to decide whether to list their house with a Realtor or sell to a Real Estate Investor.  There is not really a ‘one-size-fits-all’ answer.  It really just depends on the situation.  There pros and cons to both.  Many people worry that it may take months to get their house sold using a Realtor.  The housing market in Amarillo has really picked up.  It doesn’t take nearly as long to sell a house as it did even a year ago.  But this applies to houses that are in good condition.  If your house is in bad condition and needs a lot of repairs it is a different story.  These houses still take a long time to sell.

It is my opinion that there are really two housing markets.  One for pretty houses and one for houses that need work.  I say this to people every day.  If you have a house that is in good condition, in a good neighborhood, and you have plenty of time for it to sell, then listing with a Realtor makes the most sense.  Remember that you will end up paying around 6% in Realtor fees, about 2% in your own closing costs, and usually around 3% in buyers closing costs.  You will most likely get hit with a list of repairs that the buyer wants you to make.  You will have holding costs for the time that it sets on the market.  If you do the math you are still better off selling your pretty house with a Realtor.

But what if you have an distressed house that needs work and you can’t afford to make the repairs?  What if you need to sell it in a week, not in a few months?  That is when it may be best to sell to an investor.

Before the housing market collapsed it was not too difficult to sell distressed properties.  But now the market is flooded with ‘fixer-uppers.’   Bank Repos have flooded the market.  As banks keep discounting these properties in order to get them sold, the market just keeps getting softer.  That is why it makes more sense to work with an investor if you have a house that needs work.

If you have a house that needs a lot of work, or you have a house that you need to sell fast, call us today at 806-359-7653 or visit us online at Amarillo Real Estate Investors.