Do we have to tell buyers we're selling because of divorce?

But here's the part that actually costs sellers money: the leak rarely happens through paperwork. It happens through talk. An agent who mentions "motivated sellers" to sound helpful. A neighbor chatting up a buyer at the open house. A half-empty closet that tells the story for you. Buyers who smell urgency write lower offers — every time, like clockwork — so privacy here isn't just comfort, it's negotiating position.

My rules on this are simple: the reason never leaves my mouth, the marketing never hints, the showing prep erases the tells, and any question about motivation gets the same calm answer — "the sellers are moving on to their next chapter." True, complete, and none of anyone's business. I'm not a lawyer, and your attorney can confirm the disclosure line — but on the privacy side, that part I guarantee personally.