As a seller, your problems may seem over, or just starting. The lender still holds you liable for the loan. If your buyer does not make mortgage payments on time, your credit is affected, not theirs, so they have no incentive to pay on time. Also, if the buyer decides to let the house go into foreclosure, you will be the one responsible even though you do not own the house anymore (in signing your loan papers when you bought your house, you agreed to pay off the loans upon sale,...) Bottom line, if you consider playing in this arena, work with someone you trust absolutely and who really knows what they are doing.