Earlier this week I was having lunch with a coworker, discussing the current financial situation and comparing cutbacks at home and in our various departments at work. While we were talking about issues facing people we knew he shared the account of a close friend who had recently begun to look for a home. He had already been pre-approved for a home loan and was busy finding homes in his price range when the lender let him know that his pre-approval had been pulled, leaving him without the ability to purchase a house.

Having home ownership snatched from your fingertips, especially after you already met the tighter loan restrictions that the meltdown brought about would be a major downer. When I was telling my parents about this unfortunate story they said it reminded them of the circumstances surrounding their home buying process. My parents had been house hunting for a while and my dad left work early to get the loan finalized. In the time it took my him to take a shower their ability to buy afford the homes they had picked was wiped out because Ronald Reagan had been shot, causing the financial markets to take a drastic hit.

Selling a home in today's market is a challenge, but going it alone as a "For Sale By Owner", adds a whole new set of issues to the equation. I began looking into the FSBO market after a good friend asked my opinion on several online sites that offer service to for sale by owners. After looking closer at many online solutions, I decided that I couldn't give valid input without getting a Realtor's take on the FSBO market.

While the Internet is busy leveling the playing field in many industries, selling your own home isn't quite as easy as selling your old comic books on eBay. There are disadvantages and risks to going it on your own. In order to find out about the hazards and issues associated with selling your own home I spoke with a Kari Nisler Hafeli of Marcie & Associates Realty, Inc. in Ohio.

The first thing Kari stressed was that selling homes is her full time job, and that having a professional with years of experience and knowledge is a big plus. Even more important is the exposure that you gain from using the Multiple Listing Service, a tool that agents use to list and find homes. When you use a Realtor your home is listed on the MLS for all to see. Although it's possible to contract to have your FSBO home appear in the MLS, it does cost money.