Selling options
Ways to sell your house
Creative financing is a catch-all term for selling a house without the usual buyer-gets-a-bank-loan arrangement. Some options can help in the right situation; others put your credit and your equity at risk. This guide compares the main choices side by side, explains when a straightforward cash sale is simpler, and lists the warning signs to watch for.
A clear first step.
- A cash offer is always an option
- No obligation to accept
- Every arrangement reviewed case by case
Selling options
More than one way to sell.
Cash offers are Prominent's primary service. Other arrangements are considered case by case, and not every property, seller or state qualifies.
- Get a cash offerA written cash offer, no fees or commissions, closing costs paid, and a closing date you choose.Start with your address
- Explore a structured saleWhere it can be done properly, a structured retail sale such as a novation may aim for a higher price over a longer timeline. Not guaranteed.How a novation works
- Explore flexible termsSeller financing, cash plus payments, or a lease option, where the property and the rules allow it.Seller financing
Every option
Alternative ways to sell a house, explained.
- Seller financingWith seller financing, you act as the lender: the buyer pays you over time instead of borrowing the full price from a bank.Sell your house with seller financing
- Cash plus termsA cash-plus-terms sale splits the price in two: you receive a meaningful payment at closing, and the buyer pays the remaining balance over time under a secured note.Sell your house for cash now and the rest over time
- Novation agreementA novation agreement lets an investor prepare and market your house for a retail sale while you keep title until closing, in exchange for an agreed amount to you.Sell your house with a novation agreement
- Subject-to saleIn a subject-to sale, you transfer the deed to a buyer while your existing mortgage stays in place and in your name.Sell your house subject to the existing mortgage
- Lease optionA lease option pairs a rental lease with a separate option that gives the tenant the right, but not the obligation, to buy your house at an agreed price within a set time.Sell your house with a lease option
- Creative financingCreative financing is a catch-all term for selling a house without the usual buyer-gets-a-bank-loan arrangement.Creative ways to sell your house, explained plainly
Reading
Guides for homeowners
- What seller financing means for homeowners
- How seller financing payments work: note, interest, balloon, servicing
- Selling a house that still has a mortgage
- The risks of selling subject-to: what stays with you
- How a real estate novation works
- Novation vs. a traditional listing: the trade-offs
- Selling a rental property with owner financing
- Lease options for sellers: the pros, the cons, and the fine print
- What happens if a buyer stops paying on a seller-financed note
- Questions to ask before accepting a creative financing offer
- Comparing a cash offer with payments over time
- Tax considerations of installment sales: the basics for sellers
Frequently asked questions
Questions about selling your house
Share the address and ask us anything about the sale. There's no obligation.
Get your cash offerIs creative financing legal?
Many creative arrangements are legal when they're properly documented and comply with federal and state rules, but the details matter. Lending, licensing and foreclosure laws vary by state, and some structures can trigger your lender's due-on-sale clause. Have your own attorney review any proposal.
Will creative financing get me a higher price than a cash offer?
Not necessarily. Some arrangements can produce a different total, but you usually wait longer to be paid and take on more risk. Compare what you'd actually receive, when, and what could go wrong.
What's the difference between subject-to and a loan assumption?
In an assumption, your lender approves the buyer taking over your loan. In a subject-to sale, the buyer takes the deed while the loan stays in your name, usually without the lender's approval, so you remain responsible if payments stop.
Should I sign a quitclaim deed to someone who says they'll pay my mortgage?
Be very cautious. Signing away your deed while your loan stays in your name can leave you with the debt and no ownership. Consumer protection agencies warn that deed-transfer schemes are a common foreclosure rescue scam. Get independent legal advice first.
When is a cash sale the better choice?
When you need your proceeds now, owe a significant balance, are behind on payments, or want no ongoing ties to the property. A cash sale ends your responsibility at closing.
Does Prominent Cash Offer do creative deals?
Cash purchases are our primary service. We review creative or flexible arrangements case by case, and not every property, seller or state qualifies. We'll always give you a written cash offer, with no obligation to accept it.
Independent research
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Selling options
Find the way to sell that fits your property.
- A cash offer is always an option
- No obligation to accept
- Every arrangement reviewed case by case
Get your cash offer
A clear first step.
No obligation. Not every property qualifies for other terms.