How do we sell our church?

Deciding to sell your church property is an important decision.  It can take years of thoughtful deliberation before your group feels comfortable with making the decision to sell your property.  Raphael Realty has worked with some groups that have taken more than 17 years to make this decision.

There are several important steps to take when considering whether or not to sell your property.

First and foremost, where will your group meet after your facility has been sold?  Some groups are able to immediately find a new property that better meets their needs.  Most groups, however, have to search for an extended period of time.  If the perfect church does come on the market for sale, the seller usually cannot wait for you sell your existing property in order for you to buy this perfect church.  It may be possible to set up a concurrent close so that your existing property transfers to the new buyer at the same time as you take ownership of your new property, but often times it can take six months to a year to find a buyer for your existing church.  Some groups may decide to rent or share another property after their property sells. Other groups may decide to sell their existing property and then lease back from the group who purchased the facility.  Selling groups may do this for a period of time while they search for their new facility.  Some groups merge or disband when their property sells.  All of these options take time to arrange.  It is important to have a plan about where your group will go well before you decide to sell.  Raphael Realty can go through these options with you and your group as well as many other options and assist you in your relocation.

The second important step is to review your group’s bylaws to determine what types of votes have to be taken within your congregation and what kind of support you can expect from your denomination.  It is important that your group follows the correct procedures when executing purchase and/or sales contracts for real estate.  Title companies in California are extremely strict when it comes to following the procedures explained in a group’s bylaws.   If your group is affiliated with a denomination, it is important to consult with your denomination’s leadership to ensure they will support your group moving to a new facility.  Some denominations may help finance the purchase of a new facility. 

The third step is to consult an experienced church broker to help guide you through this process.  Selling a church is a very unique type of real estate transaction.  It is much different than selling a house or a typical piece of commercial real estate.  It is extremely important that your group is guided through this process from start to finish.  Raphael Realty can help your group make the right moves to allow your congregation to flourish.