Expert: Dick Dennis - 12/29/2009

Question
We might be moving from Illinois to Arizona. We curretnly own a home with a morgage,. I there any easy way to move from one place to the other without my husband going there first and me staying here to sell the house OR without us leaving together and paying 2 morgages?

Answer
Moving, especially to an out-of-state location, is one of life's most stressful events, Janice. It ranks somewhere below a family death and divorce. I've made major moves a couple of times and it is not fun. And unless you have a seven-figure bank account and can afford to have professionals do the chore for you while you take a Bermuda vacation, there is no other way that I know of.

Doing it the way you describe is common. The routine is to have to make the trip at least twice, Janice. First, you both go down to AZ to get an idea of what the economy, weather and job prospects are, not to mention the prices of homes. It may be a good idea to connect with a real good Realtor to help you find something and keep an idea for a good bargain purchase. It can be done.

When you go back after the first trip, you put your Illinois home in tip-top shape for listing it for sale with your neighborhood's best Realtor. You have to trust that person as you get advice on what you have to do to accomplish your goals. When your house is put on the market, then your husband can do his thing in AZ. He is going to rent a place while he hunts for a job and a home, in that order, unless he is having a job transfer.

As a buyer in AZ you should be able to get a good deal because of the slow market for sellers. As a seller, you probably already know the shoe will be on the other foot in Illinois.

No, Janice, I do not know any other way of doing this unless your husband works for a company that is tranfering him and arranges to purchase your home, not likely in this economy. I do wish you well.

Dick Dennis
dixiedee13@aol.com
You are invited to visit my blog at: http://TheRealEstateAnswerGuy.blogspot.com