David Chen
Seller Success Lead
Guides homeowners through as-is sales, inherited homes, tenants and tough situations, one honest option at a time.
Editorial approach
These guides separate documented facts from assumptions. A property's condition, ownership, financing and local requirements can change the right next step. Examples illustrate a decision; they are not offers, investment advice or promises about a particular transaction.
Start with the article closest to your situation, then verify the details against current records and the people responsible for your transaction. Keep dated estimates, written terms and supporting documents together. Where a guide discusses legal or tax questions, ask a qualified professional about your circumstances before signing or transferring money.
The articles below cover this author's audience track. Compare alternatives, notice the limitations, and check whether a recommendation fits your budget, timing and property. A direct sale, an investment purchase, a disposition partnership and a marketing campaign solve different problems; none is automatically the best choice for everyone.
Articles by David Chen
- How to Sell a House by Owner: Steps, Forms and Costs
How to sell a house by owner: pricing, disclosures, showings, contracts and closing with a title company, plus what it really costs.
- Selling a House With a Wet Basement: Fix or Sell As-Is
Selling a house with a wet basement: find the water source, what to disclose, repair costs and how an as-is cash sale compares.
- Seller Closing Costs: What You Pay and How to Lower It
Seller closing costs explained: commission, title, transfer taxes, payoff and prorations, plus a worked net sheet and ways to keep more at closing.
- How Long Does It Take to Sell a House? Step by Step
How long it takes to sell a house: prep, listing, offers, inspection and loan approval, with a sample timeline and ways to close sooner.
- Selling a House With a Septic Tank: Inspect or As-Is
Selling a house with a septic tank: when inspections are required, what buyers ask for, repair costs to weigh and how an as-is cash sale works.
- Selling a House That Needs a New Roof: Your Options
Selling a house that needs a new roof: replace it, offer a credit or sell as-is. See how roofs affect buyers, loans and your net in a worked example.
- How to Sell a House With a Mortgage: Payoff Steps
How to sell a house with a mortgage: get a payoff statement, estimate your net and see what happens at closing if you owe more or less than the price.
- Selling a House With a Pool: Value, Repairs, Safety
Selling a house with a pool? See how a pool affects buyers and price, which repairs matter, what to disclose and when selling as-is makes more sense.
- Selling a House With Radon: Test, Fix or Sell As-Is
Selling a house with radon? Learn what EPA's 4 pCi/L action level means, what buyers ask for, and how to compare fixing first with an as-is sale.
- Selling a House With Knob and Tube Wiring
Selling a house with knob and tube wiring? See how buyers, insurers and inspectors react, what rewiring costs, and when an as-is cash sale fits.
- Selling a House With a Lien: How Payoffs Work
Learn how liens are paid from sale proceeds at closing, how to find every lien and what to do when payoffs exceed the price, with a worked example.
- Sell a House With Squatters: Removal and Sale
Find out how to sell a house with squatters, from police reports and court removal to comparing a cash sale with removing occupants first.
- Selling a House With Asbestos: Remove or Sell As-Is?
Selling a house with asbestos: compare assessment, professional treatment and an as-is sale using written records, costs and disclosure checks.
- Selling a House From Out of State: A Closing Plan
Selling a house from out of state: coordinate access, signing, document delivery and proceeds verification before committing to a closing date.
- Selling a House During Divorce: Steps and Taxes
Selling a house during divorce: agree on authority, get the payoff, split proceeds by the order and check the IRS home sale exclusion before you sign.
- Selling a House With Unpermitted Work: 3 Options
Selling a house with unpermitted work: compare a retroactive permit, removal or an as-is sale with disclosure, plus the records buyers will check.
- Sell a House With a Tax Lien: Payoffs and Steps
Sell a house with a tax lien: find who holds it, get written payoffs, check your equity and let the title company clear it at closing.
- Selling a House With Fire Damage: Options and Nets
Selling a house with fire damage: work the insurance claim, compare repair, as-is listing and cash offer nets, and avoid the costly mistakes.
- Sell a House With Mold: Options, Costs, Disclosure
Sell a house with mold: size the problem with EPA guidance, compare remediation, as-is listing and cash offer nets, and learn what to disclose.
- Sell House Before Foreclosure: Timeline and Options
Sell your house before foreclosure: the federal 120-day rule, options at each stage and how a cash sale pays off the loan before the auction date.
- Selling a House With a Reverse Mortgage: Payoff Steps
Selling a house with a reverse mortgage? See how the payoff works, the HUD 95% rule for heirs and the 30-day notice, with a worked proceeds example.
- Selling a House With Solar: Verify Payoff or Transfer
Selling a house with a solar loan or leased panels? Confirm payoff or transfer terms in writing and keep solar costs on separate proceeds lines.
- How to Sell a House As Is: Compare Your Options
Learn how to sell a house as is, compare estimated proceeds, prepare disclosures, and choose a buyer without promising repairs or a closing date.
- Selling a House With Termite Damage: Repair or As-Is?
Selling a house with termite damage? Compare repair, credit and as-is routes with inspection reports, disclosure duties and labeled net math.
- Selling a House With a Leaking Roof: Repair or As-Is?
Selling a house with a leaking roof? Compare repair, credit and as-is routes with written estimates, disclosure duties and labeled net math.
- Mortgage Payoff Quote Expired Before Closing?
Mortgage payoff quote expired before closing? Reconcile the changed date, revised statement and estimated proceeds without guessing the amount.
- Sell House With Water Damage: Compare Your Options
Sell house with water damage: compare repairs, listing and an as-is offer using your own costs, damage records and local disclosure advice.
- How to Sell a House With Tenants in Place
You can sell a rental with tenants still living there. Here is how leases, notice rules, deposits and showings work, and how to pick the right buyer.
- How to Sell a House With Code Violations
Open code violations, fines and unpermitted work can stall a sale. Here is how to find what is on file, which fixes matter, and how to sell as-is.
- How to Sell a Hoarder House Without Cleaning It
Selling a hoarder house is stressful, especially when it belonged to someone you love. Here is how to plan, what clean-outs cost and how to sell as-is.
- How to Sell a House With Foundation Problems
Cracks, sloping floors and sticking doors scare off retail buyers and lenders. Here are your three real options, what repairs cost, and what you must disclose.
- How to Sell a House During Probate (2026 Guide)
Selling an inherited house while the estate is still open is common and legal. Here is who can sign, which court papers you need, and how long each step takes.