Life isn’t always smooth sailing.
Whether it’s divorce, inheritance, or relocating for a new job… sometimes things get thrown off course. When this happens, a few common threads tie these situations together. Namely- the family home.
The issue:
Most people don’t have the luxury of time when their worlds are turned upside down. They have bills to pay and need to move house fast. Unfortunately selling your home during times of hardship is rarely a walk in the park.
Luckily every life changing situation is different. And knowing how each circumstance affects the sale of your house can help you come out on top.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How Divorce Impacts The Home Sale Process
- How to Sell An Inherited Property
- Why Relocation Leads to Urgency To Close On House Fast
- How to Sell Your House Fast During Any Life Transition
How Divorce Impacts The Home Sale Process
Getting divorced is probably the number one reason people put their homes up for sale.
It’s also not surprising. For most married couples, their home is by far their biggest asset. So when a marriage comes to an end, that asset needs to be split in half. The majority of the time, that means selling the house and splitting profits evenly.
But…it’s not always that easy.
Typically both parties need to be in agreement on the selling price. How long the house will be on the market, and how profits will be split. And if one partner doesn’t want to sell? It could delay the divorce proceedings and complicate matters.
Selling your home fast is crucial when going through a divorce. The longer your house is on the market, the more legal fees you accrue, the more mortgage payments you’ll have to make, and the more of a headache the whole process becomes. If you find yourself in a divorce situation and need to sell your house fast, make sure you understand all of your options to close on the house fast.
These are the most common mistakes homeowners make when selling during a divorce:
- Pricing emotionally
- Waiting too long to sell
- Misunderstanding tax liability
- Agreeing to a sale price before listing
Bottom line? Come to an agreement quickly. The sooner you both decide to sell, and the basic terms of the sale, the quicker you can sell your home.
Selling An Inherited Property
Inheriting a house from a loved one is like hitting the jackpot…right?
Wrong.
Many homes that are passed down from grandparents or family friends require too much maintenance to keep up with. Others are located hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Making them impossible to manage from home. Then you factor in the emotional attachment to the family home. Selling an inherited house can be stressful.
Here’s a fun fact you might not know…
Inherited homes are making up a huge chunk of real estate transactions across the U.S. In fact, a recent study showed that 340,000 homes were passed down to new owners from Dec 2024 to Aug 2025. That’s 7% of all property transfers!
With Baby Boomers steadily reaching age 65 and older every day, that number is only going to grow.
So what are some unique challenges to selling an inherited home?
- Unclear ownership. When more than one person inherits a home it can become difficult to make unanimous decisions.
- Fixer uppers. Older homes that have been passed down through the generations usually come with high repair costs.
- Tax complications. Not understanding the rules around taxes can cost you at closing.
- Emotional factors. As mentioned before, it can be hard to let go of a family home.
If you need to sell the house quickly after inheriting it, the process of listing with an agent and renting things out while you find a buyer can take months. In fact, you could spend months just paying mortgage payments and upkeep on a house you’re not living in. Not to mention that’s time your money could be making you more money elsewhere.
Why Relocation Creates Urgency To Close On House Fast
Whether your company is relocating you to a new office across the country, you’ve committed to military service, or your family is growing and you need more space. Relocation = urgency.
Think about it.
You’re moving somewhere new and typically have a finite amount of time to make it happen. If your company is paying for your move, they’ll likely have a move out date on the calendar. And if you’re moving across the country…there’s no time to list your house and hope it sells in a week.
According to NAR’s 2024 Migration Report, 36% of buyers moved to a different state!
That means almost half of all people buying a home this year are dealing with a tight timeline to sell their current house.
Sellers that are relocated face unique challenges.
- Balancing two mortgages. It’s tough to save up for a move when you’re paying rent and a mortgage simultaneously.
- Showing your home from afar. Whether you’re waiting for the new house to become available or jumping straight into your new role, managing a remote sale is difficult.
- Job limitations. Unless you work in real estate, your new job isn’t going to be able to accommodate your home sale.
- A slow market. What happens if no one wants to buy your house in the months it’s for sale? You’re stuck paying bills on two homes!
Homeowners that move often settle for offers that are way below market value. But that doesn’t have to be the case. With planning and a little help, you can sell your house fast and get to your new home sooner.
The Fastest Way To Sell During A Life Transition
Regardless of what life event is forcing you to sell…time is always of the essence.
Selling a home traditionally can take weeks or even months. Which isn’t practical for most people dealing with a life crisis.
That’s why alternative options like selling to a cash buyer have boomed in recent years.
Cash Buyers:
- Can close in as little as 7-14 days
- No repairs needed
- No agent commission fees
As-Is Sale:
- No repairing or prepping your home to sell
- Best when you need to move ASAP
Direct Sale Companies:
- Companies that specialise in quick closings
- They can even provide you with an offer in as little as 24-48 hours.
You don’t have to settle for the first offer you receive, or mess with repairs and real estate agents. Don’t get stuck in storage fees because you can’t sell fast. Understand all of your options first so you aren’t blindsided later.
Bringing Everything Together
Whether you’re getting divorced, inherited a new property, or were presented with a new career opportunity across the state… your home sale can be stressful. But once you understand how these life changes affect your options, you’ll be one step closer to moving on with your life.
Just remember these tips.
- Home sales during a divorce require consensus. Come to an agreement on pricing and timelines as fast as possible.
- Inherited homes are not always the dream you expect them to be. Many come with years of deferred maintenance and emotional ties.
- When moving cross country or to a new city, you don’t have time to sell your home the traditional way. If you have a deadline, you’ll need to get creative.
Selling your house during a major life event is already hard. Don’t make it worse by putting yourself in a position to fail.
Take action ASAP.
