House swapping benefits and drawbacks

Benefits:You'll have a buyer for your house in hand before you purchase another one. And if you find a buyer without a real estate agent, you can avoid a sales commission.

Drawbacks: Finding a match offering exactly what you are looking for can be a long shot. You do the work of scouring listings, posting your home on websites and e-mailing potential buyers and conducting showings.

Tips: Both parties should be pre-approved for a mortgage.

• Follow all the conventional steps of buying and selling a home including full disclosure, property appraisals and inspections.