What Happens When You Trade Your Home for a Debt-Free Start?

Is tapping your home equity ever a smart way to reset your finances? One listener’s story reveals what to weigh before selling. Should you sell your house to wipe out credit card debt and start over? What are the hidden trade-offs when using home equity to eliminate debt? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola talk with a listener navigating $55,000 in debt while managing a rental property, weighing whether a sale could lead to long-term stability or a missed opportunity. But first, senior news writer Anna Helhoski shares insights from her conversation with Erin El Issa, a senior data writer at NerdWallet, about a new report on back-to-school spending, including actionable tips for saving money on school supplies amid inflation, tariffs, and social pressures. Then, Sean and Elizabeth answer a listener’s question about whether selling their home is the right move to eliminate $55,000 in debt and build a fresh financial start. They explore how to evaluate the trade-offs between long-term equity and short-term relief, model future cash flow with or without rental income, and factor in tax consequences from withdrawing retirement funds or timing a home sale. Take the Smart Money Podcast Listener Survey 2025 and enter to win a prize! https://nerdwallet.com/podsurvey Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header What You’ll Learn in This Episode 💰 Home sale decision-making – When selling your house to pay off debt could make sense 📊 Equity vs. cash flow – Weighing long-term property growth against short-term relief 🏠 Rental income trade-offs – How to model your budget with or without tenant payments 📅 Timing the sale – Why the tax year matters if you’re selling a home and cashing out retirement funds ⚖️ Debt payoff strategies – How debt management plans compare to bankruptcy 🧠 Emotional factors – Balancing financial logic with peace of mind and lifestyle goals 🔄 Financial reset planning – Steps to prepare for your next home purchase after paying off debt To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com . Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices