The Situation
D. and L. were selling their luxury home from out of state. They were motivated to sell and open to creative terms.
The Challenge
Above $1 million, the buyer pool is small. The right buyer wanted to pay over time rather than finance through a bank, which shifts real risk onto the seller if it isn't structured carefully.
The Strategy
- Marketed well beyond the MLS: a luxury open house event, targeted advertising, and broad syndication, with more than 40,000 listing views on Homes.com alone.
- Made two measured price adjustments, in late February and mid-March, based on how buyers were actually responding.
- When a buyer proposed seller financing, modeled the down payment, interest rate, and payment schedule so the sellers saw the numbers before agreeing.
- Confirmed with the title company that the note was secured by the property, so the sellers kept full protection in the event of a default.
- Fielded a second buyer's letter of intent the same week, which strengthened the sellers' position.
- Negotiated a short, specific repair list after inspection, and cleared an expired permit flagged in the lien search before closing.
The Result
Closed at $1,150,000, 100% of the final list price, fully furnished, with the sellers receiving a substantial down payment plus monthly payments with interest. The sellers signed remotely, and the buyer flew in to close.
"Working with Carleen on the sale of our Embers Pkwy property was wonderful! She guided us through the seller financing process with care and clear communication, and we're so grateful for her help every step of the way."