I own a 600 square foot post and beam house with a crawlspace foundation on a sizeable chunk of land, and would like to build a new larger home behind it. Since my existing house would be in the way of a future garage, I have wondered about the possibility of selling just the structure to someone who would move it to another piece of land. How might I determine if there is a market for this, and how would I advertise a house for sale that is literally just the house?

mikee - Did you ever get an answer to your question? I'm interested in selling my own home (structure only)

Nope.

Mikee72 - hi, this certainly sounds like something you'd have to check locally with your real estate agents. Your biggest competition would be modular/manufactured homes that people could purchase and have erected on their land. In your case, you'd have to locate a mover who could lift the home, put it onto a suitable trailer, and move it to wherever it's going. I've seen it done but I imagine it's very expensive - so that cost has to be figured into your selling cost (depends on who foots the bill for the mover - higer if you do, lower if the buyer does). If it's been done locally, hopefully the local real estate agents can tell you. Otherwise, maybe a magazine like "This Old House" might give you some idea as to the market. Good luck! Jim D/West Point, VA

Thanks for the advice, Jim.

When you buy real estate, what you buy is land. Anything permanently attached -- like a house -- comes with it.

However, I've read somewhere else that in Maryland, buying home less the land is common.

Apparently the landowner retains ownership of the land and you pay rent to them.

The answer to the question should be, it depends on where you are buying a house and that you need to seek real estate agents or property management companies that would walk you through the process properly.

~www.milwaukeecondoman.com