eat idea, but how do you make that happen? We want to know: What is your biggest retirement fear? Comment below!  If you’re not making much money, you may have to take on a part-time job while you grow your business. It might mean a career change or something as simple as putting in more hours and kicking that business in the tail to really get it running. A lot of your money is going out the door every month to pay those debts. But if your debt was paid off, you’d have money to invest for retirement. It’s a combination of an income problem and an outgo problem that’s standing in your way, Avis. Get the income up and stabilized, knock out the debt, and then you’ll create cash flow to save and fund retirement! —Dave Dear Dave, I’m in college, and I live in a rental house. There’s no formal lease, and my landlord never asked for a deposit of any kind. Last January, I started receiving notices from Chase Mortgage saying that my landlord is $7,500 behind in his mortgage. I’m worried about what will happen if they foreclose on him. Should I move out, stop paying rent, or what? He’s told me not to worry, because he’s just behind on the payments and not in default. -Chris Dear Chris, Well, the last part is not quite true. When you’re behind on payments you are, by definition, in default. Still, I think you should stay right where you are for now, and keep paying your rent on time like normal. Keep the lines of communication open with your landlord, too. I’d also contact Chase, and tell them about your situation in this house. Ask them to keep you informed about what’s happening with the property, so that you’ll have time to formulate a plan and find a new place to live if the house goes into foreclosure. Chances are thhere's no relationship between your assessed value, taxable value and the actual market value of our house," says Pat Vredevoogd Combs, past president of the National Association of Realtors and vice president of Coldwell Banker AJS Schmidt in Grand Rapids, Mich. "There doesn't seem to be any correlation." The truth is that your house is worth what buyers are willing to pay. No more. "This is a true market that Adam Smith would have loved -- totally based on supply and demand," Combs says. That means many buyers should be prepared to lose some money or hang onto the home until the price rises. "We did end up taking a loss," says Foltz, who wrote a check for $3,000 at the closing table. The good news is that the couple sold their home in less than two months. Beware the agent who promises big profits, Combs says. That person may just be after your business. "Don't go with anyone who doesn't use comps," she says. And study sales prices, not asking prices, for real estate. Promotion, Promotion, Promotion One question to ask yourself and pose as you interview agents: How will you reach the home's target market? "You have to consider who your most likely buyers are for what you're selling and cater to that group of people," Ramsey says. Targeting 20-somethings who live on their smartphones? You need to effectively access the networks your buyers are tapping to find their next home. One big trend: QR (or "quick response") bar codes that allow smartphone users to access property information electronically, he says. The typical starter home can also appeal to downsizing empty nesters, says Ramsey. To serve their needs, you might also want to have a phone number that instantly reaches someone who can provide details and answer questions, he says. And don't neglect the modern version of curb appeal: using lots of photos on real estate listings' websites. However you market your house, you need a good number of clear, well-lit, professional-quality pictures that show your house at its best. Throw in Extras When the Foltzes were getting ready to move, they knew that they probably wouldn't be able to take their top-of-the-line gas clothes dryer. "It's not a typical thing in a lot of houses," says Foltz. So they offered to sell the washer/dryer set, as well as a few other items that would be difficult to move, like the two wall-mounted, flat-screen TVs. While the couple hoped these perks would bring a little extra money to the table, it didn't work out that way. But it did sweeten the pot for the buyer, who agreed to buy at full price if the Foltzes included those items. Since taking them would have netted them additional headaches, their "extras" became a good selling point. Clear the Clutter Keeping your house clean is important in every sale. But first-timers are likely selling smaller houses, and clutter can mean the difference between cozy and cramped. Clearing the clutter is "something we spent two to three weeks doing before we brought anyone in," says Foltz. While they believed their home would show better furnished, they also wanted to pare down all the nonessential pieces. And they stored the "leftovers" in the garage. Before they put it on the market, the Foltzes asked their agent's opinion. "We told him we're willing to do whatever you want," Foltz says. The agent's recommendation: Get rid of the bedroom dresser to make the room feel more spacious. Kitchen and bathroom countertops are another hot spot that many sellers forget to clear. The same chaos that represents your normal routine makes your house seem messy, disorganized and uninviting to buyers. However, you don't want to remove all traces of human existence, says Combs. "Decluttering is good. But I'm not a big fan of taking all of your personal stuff out." Mementos and photos make a house feel like a home, she says. "Don't neutralize it so that it's sterile."   Most buyers are lazy. The last thing a new homeowner wants is another 'to-do' list, Ramsey says. So get the home move-in ready before it hits the market so the buyer can start fresh easily. That means making all the repairs and replacements that you would demand if you were buying the house today. If you have to walk single file up the walkway, trim the bushes. If the garage door is dented, have that fixed or replaced, Ramsey says. "If you go