Journal-News.com

Rick Rosenberger is going beyond the "for sale" sign posted outside his two-story, three bedroom home.

After listing his golf course community Fairfield house with a Realtor for two months and getting no takers, the West Chester man (who owns multiple properties) decided to test the waters in a growing trend known as "house swapping."

"It's kind of a creative way to open the door for more buyers," Rosenberger said.

House swapping has been around for awhile with vacation and rental homes, but experts say it is becoming increasing popular for primary residences. Some people are finding it an attractive alternative to losing time and money trying to sell their home in a slow housing market.

There are dozens of Web sites that offer to help pair up compatible home owners so they can trade their properties. Some sites have thousands of creative ads that include pictures of their home and information about it. Some sites allow sellers to list for free and others charge a small fee.

While some states like Florida boast as many as 1,300 properties up for trading on the popular Web site domuswap.com, those searching in Ohio have fewer — about 57 properties — to choose from on the site. And just a handful of those listings are in Warren and Butler counties.

Jerry Jones, a graduate of Carlisle High School who now lives in Atlanta, is searching several Web sites to find a home in the Franklin area for his mother who wants to move back to the area. Jones said he's looking to trade one of his two Atlanta properties — a three-bedroom, ranch-style home.

"There have been a lot of inquires, but none specifically in the area," he said.

As Jones searches for a house, Rosenberger is willing to accept something other than a house in his trade. Rosenberger says he'll take a sports car, boat or a vacation house in exchange.

"I don't really owe much on the house, so I'm flexible," Rosenberger said. "I just wanted to see what kind of opportunities it brought up."

Rosenberger and Jones say they have seen interest in the weeks since they put their properties online, but neither has yet sealed a deal.

"It's going to be tough," Jones said. "You have two different parties who have specific needs. If it works out to be mutually beneficial, then I think it's great."

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2551 or mengle@coxohio.com.'

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