What do you currently owe on the house?

[Jerryll Noorden]

Hi gang.

I am about to give an offer. I got all the info except how much they owe on the hosue.

So I ask her if they own the house free and clear or if they have a mortgage.

She answers,  "we have several loans on the house".

I say OK that is fine. May I ask how much you owe?

Suddenly she gets a bit defensive and asks why is that relevant what we owe? We will pay off the mortgage when we sell...

So  now I wonder, why DO we ask how much they owe?

Is it just to see how low we can offer them?