Market Conditions & timing

It's important to know whether you're in a seller's market (low inventory and rising prices), a buyer's market (rising inventory, stabilizing/falling prices), or a balanced market (number of home on the market is equal to the number of buyers). Consider the timing of your sale relative to the market is very important. A slow market may negatively affect your sale. Ask your realtor for local market condition update.

Selling Costs

It costs thousands of dollars to sell a property and relocate - often as much as 15 percent of the sales price of your home by the time you count the real estate commission, closing fees, and moving costs. The less equity you have in the house, the greater the financial hit. It pays to run the numbers before you sell.

Tax consequences

Though capital gains tax laws have relaxed to the point where most Americans don't have to pay tax on real estate profits, you will likely have to pay if you've lived in your home only a short time. Make sure you know where you stand.