We have a FAQ sheet that we provide as part of our Disclosures Package which answers he question of why the seller is selling unless it is personal or too revealing. Buyers are often interested in why the sellers are selling. There can be many reasons...many of them innocuous. We would never reveal information that the seller did not want shared or that we considered was too revealing

Whenever someone asks why my Seller is selling I ask "Why is your Buyer buying?"  If they answer, I simply respond with "Interesting".   I share nothing, ever.  And, what's owing is no ones business and never gets disclosed even at closing.  Absolutely confidential.  Privacy Laws are a great thing.

I never ask, it's just not relevant unless it's a so I don't get foreclosed on and that's just NOT the market we're in. 

Whatever side I represent, I never provide the other party a reason or motivation why... 

 Most of the time we never get the truth anyway so why boher.  I find I can gather more information doing my own due diligence rather than asking.

I ask whatever questions need to be asked relevant to each individual. 

The ONLY time 'how much is owed' might matter is 
Short Sale
Seller Carryback
Lowball Offer

I don't hate much of anything or anyone . . . but rag bitches complaining that 'seller's making too much money' bc they bought right or got lucky does inspire violent thoughts. LOL I have fired buyers over it! 

yes, the ask, no I don't answer.

I might have asked out of curiosity Richie Alan Naggar but I think they usually volunteered it before my asking.

The whys and wherefores of the selling has really never been pertinent, today, yesterday, or ever.

And how much is owed on said property isn't particularly relevant either in or out of my pajamas.

Not often asked, and they can ask but the seller doesn't have to say why unless it's because of a material fact adversely affecting the property.

How much is owed is ballpark on the tax records, no need to ask as a buyers agent I already know, it's irrelevant to me unless we're dealing with a property on the verge of a pre-foreclosure. I know some agents and buyers think there's a strategy in knowing but as a strong negotiator I say meh!

Have not divulged to a buyer/buyer agent why a seller decides to put a property on the market. They're just looking for any kind of motivation to take advantage of and it's really none of their business. 

I've had it asked a time or two in recent years.  My answer is typically something akin to "because they listed the home."

I;ve never asked that when working with a buyer. Sometimes, a seller will tell me why they're selling without me asking.

I don't know about pertinent... but it's an inappropriate question. When I'm asked by a buyer's agent why my clients are selling my lips are zipped. I don't say anything that might compromise my client's negotiating posture. Obviously, if it's listed as a relo sale or estate sale, etc. no need to ask the question. And for those reasons I don't ask a listing agent why their client is selling. I just chat them up and sooner or later they'll let something slip that might be of use to my buyer.

I've never been asked about how much money is owed on a property as a listing agent... not once in 30+ years. And I've never asked that question in 30+ years. We only ask that question of sellers as it's a part of our listing agreement to note the balance of a mortgage and with whom if there is one.

Irrelevant was always y response and I encouraged sellers to respond the same way!

They ask but I don't tell. We can only disclose why a seller is selling if that is authorized by them in the listing agreement and it rarely is. When an agent asks that, my response is "either Why do you want to know?" or "Why is your buyer buying?", depending on who is asking. If neither of those stop the questioning, I ask the agent if they disclose that information to a buyer's agent when they are the listing agent and that usually ends the conversation.

I have never been asked how much is owed on a property and that would only be relevant on a short sale.

Ha ha ha ha  I like the answer of Susan Emo 

I always ask the buyers back at these questions like 'why does it matter'?

The how much they owe hasn't been asked in years & that REALLY makes no difference to the buyer. What they are really asking is 'how much they gonna get'?

Answer that question with a question. Why do you ask?  And no, it is not relevant why sellers are selling and I do not disclose the why.

It depends on who you Represent

Some ask, few answer.

They still ask and I've never thought it matters unless it impacts the wants and needs of the terms associated with an offer. 

I still get that question, yes. I think buyers are just curious. No harm intended and nothing that a crazy market removes from their curiosity either!

Sellers sell because they can.  For the money obviously.

I always thought that this question was laughable.  I explain the hundreds of reasons that a person sells their home and that it doesn't really matter.  I then let them know that I'll check into it.

People do ask why the seller is selling. It's usually not a big deal. I do think how much they owe is pertinent so you can make sure sellers will be able to payoff their mortgage.

     The motivation to buy and sell... critical information to form the correct expectations and strategy in any real estate sale. It puts the cards face up to show everyone involved what is at stake.

     If a seller says I don't have to sell but would if I could get seven times the realistic current market value, their expectation guides whether you take the listing or not. Whether you can help them or not.

     In our small real estate market 90 percent of the sales are list, market sell and bring the two sides together. One broker. So much easier when you know what both sides expect and can quickly communicate back and forth without "my buyer" "my seller" iron curtain barriers.

Buyers can ask, but as part of our loyalties, as listing agents we do not tell. How much is owed is relevant in case it's a short sale.