Relocating for Work?
We Match Your Timeline.

To qualify for the capital gains tax exclusion ($250,000 single / $500,000 married), you need to have lived in the home as your primary residence for at least two of the last five years.

If you're relocating and have lived in the home for at least two years, you're fine — sell whenever it makes sense. But if you're under the two-year mark, you may owe capital gains on the profit.

There's an exception: if you're selling because of a job relocation that's at least 50 miles farther from your home than your old job was, you may qualify for a partial exclusion even if you haven't hit two years.

Talk to a tax advisor about your specific situation. The difference can be tens of thousands of dollars.

Some employers offer relocation packages that include a home buyout — they'll purchase your home (or guarantee a certain sale price) so you can move without worrying about it.

These programs are convenient but often come with strings: the buyout price may be below market value, there are usually strict timelines and appraisal requirements, and the process can still take 60-90 days.

Before accepting a corporate buyout, it's worth getting an independent cash offer and listing comparison from us. You might net more selling on your own, even after a fast cash sale. At minimum, you'll have a benchmark to compare against your employer's offer.

Keeping the house as a rental sounds appealing — passive income, building equity, a fallback if the new job doesn't work out. But the reality of being a long-distance landlord is harder than it looks:

• Property management fees: 8-10% of monthly rent, plus leasing fees
• Vacancy risk: Even one month empty costs you mortgage, taxes, and insurance with no income
• Maintenance surprises: A furnace dies at 2 AM and you're 2,000 miles away
• Capital gains clock: If you rent for more than 3 years, you may lose your primary residence exclusion

Renting makes sense if you have strong positive cash flow and a reliable property manager. Otherwise, selling now and investing the equity elsewhere is usually the smarter financial move.

If you've already moved and the house is sitting empty, it's costing you money every month — and creating risk:

• Insurance: Most homeowner policies require notification if the home is vacant for more than 30-60 days. Vacant home insurance costs 50-100% more.
• Maintenance: Pipes can freeze, roofs can leak, and break-ins happen. With no one checking, small problems become expensive ones.
• Carrying costs: Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, and lawn care add up to thousands per month.

Every month the house sits empty is money lost. A cash sale eliminates the carrying costs immediately — even if the price is lower than a traditional listing, the total financial picture often comes out ahead when you factor in months of holding costs.