Selling a home with an outstanding mortgage is more common than it seems. Many homeowners decide to move, invest in another property or simply relieve themselves of a financial burden before the loan is paid off.
But the big question arises: how to sell a house with an outstanding mortgage legally, quickly and profitably?
Find out exactly how much you owe the bank
The first step before selling a home with an outstanding mortgage is to know exactly how much you owe the bank. To do this, you need to:
- Ask the bank for the certificate of outstanding debt.
- Ask if there are any fees for paying off the mortgage early.
- Check if there are any other encumbrances on the home, such as liens or additional loans.
With this information you will know if the money from the sale will cover the debt or if you will have to contribute something else.
Calculate how much your home is worth and set a realistic price
Once you know how much you owe the bank, the next step is to find out how much you can sell your house for. In Fuerteventura, the price of a property can vary quite a lot depending on the area: it is not the same to sell in Corralejo or Puerto del Rosario than in inland areas or in highly demanded tourist areas. Therefore, the ideal is to ask for a professional valuation that takes into account not only the location, but also the state of the house, its age, possible reforms and the current situation of the real estate market.
With this valuation you will be able to set a realistic selling price that will cover the mortgage and leave you with a profit. Setting the price too high can cause the home to take too long to sell, while setting it too low can cause you to lose money unnecessarily. This is where Destiny Home can help you define a pricing strategy that will attract buyers and allow you to sell in the shortest possible time, without sacrificing your interests.
Choose the best way to pay off your mortgage
Once you know how much you owe and how much you can get from the sale, it’s time to decide how you’re going to pay off the mortgage. There are several options, and the choice will depend on your financial situation and what you agree with the buyer.
- One possibility is to pay off the mortgage before selling if you have sufficient savings. In this way, the property is sold completely free of encumbrances, which can make it more attractive to buyers. However, it is not always possible or convenient to provide all that money up front.
- The most common option is to pay off the mortgage on the day of the sale. In this case, the buyer pays directly to the bank the part that corresponds to the debt, and the rest of the money is given to you as the seller. Thus, the house is free of charges in the same act of the signature before the notary.
- Finally, in some cases the buyer can subrogate himself in your mortgage, that is to say, assume the loan with its same conditions. This is not always possible, as it depends on the bank approving the transaction and the mortgage conditions being attractive to the buyer.
Whichever option you choose, having the help of professionals like Destiny Home allows you to analyze each alternative calmly and make sure everything is well organized before the day of the signing.
Prepare all documentation
To sell your home with a mortgage, you will need:
- The bank’s certificate of indebtedness.
- The deeds of the house.
- The simple note of the Land Registry.
- The energy certificate.
- The last tax receipts (IBI, etc.).
If you have these documents ready, the process will go much faster. Destiny can take care of compiling and managing everything for you so you don’t have to worry about anything.
Sign the sale and cancel the mortgage
The key moment comes with the signing before a notary. In that act, everything is done at the same time: the buyer pays, the bank receives the corresponding part to cancel the mortgage, and both the deed of sale and the debt cancellation deed are signed.
It is essential that after the signing the cancellation is registered in the Land Registry so that the property is officially free of encumbrances. Here it is also very useful to have the support of a specialized real estate agency in Fuerteventura, as they can supervise the whole process so that no loose ends are left untied.
Take into account taxes and expenses
When selling a property you may have to pay:
- Plusvalía municipal, which depends on how long you have had the house.
- IRPF, if you have made a profit on the sale.
- Notary fees, registration and possible bank commission.
If you do not want complications, Destiny can help you in every step: valuation, bank procedures, document management and accompaniment until the end of the sale. This way everything will be faster, simpler and safer.
