Selling a Home in Ventura County

The biggest cost is usually the real estate commission. Commissions are not set by law. Each broker sets their own, they are negotiable between you and the broker, and California requires the listing agreement for a home of 1 to 4 units to say so (Business and Professions Code 10147.5). Other costs usually include escrow and title fees, the county documentary transfer tax, the payoff of any loan on the home, property taxes and any HOA dues owed through closing, disclosure reports, and any repairs or credits you agree to with the buyer. Who pays each cost is set in your purchase contract, and some of it follows local custom. Before you list, I estimate your costs so you can see what you could walk away with. The final numbers come from escrow. My guide to the cost of selling goes through each one.

No, it is not required, and it is negotiable. Since the NAR settlement practice changes of August 17, 2024, offers to pay a buyer’s agent can no longer be posted on the MLS. You can still choose to offer it outside the MLS. A buyer can also ask you, as part of their offer, to pay some or all of their agent’s fee or to give a credit toward their costs, and you can say yes, no or counter. Buyers now sign a written agreement with their own agent that states how that agent is paid, and California law has required one no later than the offer since January 1, 2025. Before you list, you and I decide together whether offering it makes sense for your home. Sources: NAR settlement FAQs and California Civil Code 1670.50.

Through the commission set in your listing agreement. You and I agree on it before you sign, and I explain it in plain terms before you commit to anything. It is usually paid through escrow from your sale proceeds when the sale closes.

No. What I give you is a comparative market analysis: my opinion of a likely price range, based on recent sales of similar homes nearby, the homes for sale now and the ones that did not sell. It is a price opinion, not an appraisal. Under California law, an opinion of value from a real estate licensee cannot be called an appraisal (Business and Professions Code 11302). An appraisal is done by a licensed appraiser, and if your buyer uses a loan, their lender usually orders one during escrow. You choose the list price. Here is how I price a home.

Yes, and the order matters. You can sell first and then buy, buy first and then sell, or line up both closings together, and each choice changes your timing, your offer and where you live in between. Some sellers ask the buyer for time to stay in the home after closing, and some buyers make an offer that depends on their current home selling. I plan the sale and the purchase together so the dates line up. For the loan on your next home, the home loans page covers your options. You are free to choose any lender. My guide to selling and buying at the same time walks through each order.

There is no set answer, and no one can promise one. It depends on your price, the home’s condition, your city and price range, and what buyers are doing that month. Getting ready to list often takes a few weeks. Once you accept an offer, escrow often runs about 30 to 45 days, depending on the buyer’s loan and the terms you agree on. The seller’s timeline walks through each stage.

You disclose the facts you know that materially affect the home’s value or desirability, such as its physical condition. For most home sales, California requires the Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement, a form where you describe the home’s condition and any defects you know about (Civil Code 1102). If the home sits in a mapped flood, fire or earthquake hazard zone, you disclose that on a Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement (Civil Code 1103). The purchase contract usually calls for a Seller Property Questionnaire too, with more detailed questions about the home. A home built before 1978 also gets the federal lead-based paint disclosure, with limited exceptions. Other disclosures can apply depending on where the home is, its age and its features. Leaving out a problem you know about can lead to a claim against you after closing, so if you are unsure whether something matters, disclose it. For a legal question about your disclosures, a real estate attorney is the right person to ask.

Yes, in some cases. While a contingency in the contract is still open, such as the inspection, appraisal or loan contingency, the buyer can usually cancel under its terms and get their deposit back. Once the buyer removes their contingencies, cancelling gets much harder, and a buyer who cancels without a reason the contract allows can put their deposit at risk. A backup offer can help here: if the first buyer cancels, the backup buyer can step in without you relisting the home.

At closing. Escrow closes when the deed is recorded with the county, and escrow then sends your net proceeds by wire or by check. A wire often arrives the same day. What you receive is the sale price minus your loan payoff and your selling costs. If you need that money to close on your next home, tell me early so the two closings can be timed together.

Sí, claro. Choose Español on the last step of the selling plan request and I will follow up in Spanish, by call, text or email, whichever you prefer. I also write your listing description in Spanish as well as English and answer buyers’ questions in Spanish.