To sell or not to sell, that is the question. If you ask realtors in my area what the HOTTEST selling properties are, they will tell you $300,000 and under. If you keep prying, you will find out homes UNDER $100k are selling like hotcakes (the nice ones that are priced well, at least).

Before I go any further, I will try to sell anything with a door and a roof regardless of price. If it helps my seller, I'm game.

One starts to wonder when you get into the $50's & $60's as to whether it is beneficial or not. Before you think I'm an egomaniac looking for the next big score, let's look at it from a business perspective as I am a sole proprietor running a small business.

Here's are some thoughts against taking an overly inexpensive :

1) The paycheck. When it comes down to it, was it worth your time and effort to get this sold. If you break down the approximate hours worked on this particular deal, how does it equate to other transactions? Will you wind up making less than minimum wage when it's all tallied up? If so, consider referring it.

2) Effort involved. Why is the home that inexpensive? Eaten through with termites, ravaged by black old, or so dilapidated you can't let buyers use the stairs (yep, I've been there)? Consider the extra effort it will involve to move this home...meeting with inspectors, municipal inspectors, the endless sign calls, the inspections that will inevitably fail, the repairs required by FHA financing...sometimes a lemon is a lemon.

3) You time. What is your time worth to you? Could you be out listing and selling a $250,000 home during the time you are listing the $23,000 home? If "you're in it to win it" then you know the answer already...steer clear and let another agent handle this. It's good experience and low risk for them.

4) Liability. Ehhh. You can't sneeze without being liable for something. A good entrepreneur will manage their risk and balance with the potential reward. Is your livelihood worth risking for a much smaller paycheck? Does the liability you are taking on adequately pay off in the end? Most likely not...tread carefully.

Ok, so those are some reasons to avoid discount-priced listings. But what's the payoff for working them like any other property you are marketing?

1) Living up to your reputation. I don't know about you, but my personal credo is to help homeseller's as much as I can. That includes Uncle Johnny who just found out he was willed Aunt Susie's 70 year old house. More so if the seller is out of state, financially strapped, or a client referral. It's just the right thing to do.

2) It's gas money. My father once told me that the smaller commissions pay the bills and the larger closing checks go into savings. I have tried to live to that standard and so far it's worked. After all, isn't it all about the bottom line?

3) Look at the leads. That mold infested home might not sell, but you are going to give it a shot. Good on ya! if you work it right, you may parlay some of the many leads you get into a sale(s). That's the real payoff in this business - helping seller's and ultimately assisting buyer's find the right home for them (and it may not be your listing!).

4) Stats. Everyone likes being on top. You won't get there as fast if you habitually turn away business. Plus, you may not want the reputation that you turn away business. This may turn off seller's who own a more pricey property as well as that inexpensive one.

5) Get your hands dirty. Ok, it/s not exciting to get a home that needs substantial repairs and is priced as such. However, the learning curve is very steep and a wise realtor will use these opportunities to their fullest. Learning about a different type of home (frame vs block), a different area than you normally work, a different class of Buyer (FHA vs Conventional) will make you a smarter realtor in the end, and intelligence is power in this business.

So what did you learn? Hopefully that there are pros and cons to that $15,000 listing with boarded up windows. Everyone needs to make a business decision that suits their needs - just make that decision with as much insight and info as possible.