A few months back, I posted a blog about a house swap that my client and another seller/buyer had consummated here in Mesa, Arizona. It was a wonderful experience. There were no problems, and the other agent and I worked seamlessly with one another. As in many instances, my client was looking for a larger home, and the other a smaller home. They loved each other’s homes, financed through their own lenders, and closed on time.

Last night I heard on the [1] news that many homeowners are swapping homes, that it’s the new rage! Could it be they are swapping homes without the benefit of a Realtor! Wow, does that sound scary to anyone else but me? The news was focusing on a homeowner here in town who was hoping to swap with someone else from out of town since his home was not selling or even getting visitors to his home. I can understand sellers wanting to do SOMETHING to sell his/her home, but I am concerned for many reasons. We’ve had so much treachery and thievery in the housing market that I can only imagine how the crooks will get involved with this idea. ALL the more reason, that if you, as a seller, or a buyer, are even thinking about a SWAP - get your Realtors involved - PLEASE! There are too many opportunities for the sale to fall through, and buyers and sellers are simply not equipped to deal with these unknowns.

This is, of course, is my two cents. Though I wrote this article about the happenings in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona valley, I know this has to be happening across the country. There are absolutely myriad problems that could occur. Please use a Realtor!