52 Family Game Nights: For Sale

Summer is a busy time, but I haven’t forgotten about this series. Today I’ll share a new-ish card game that our family enjoys.

family game night for saleFamily Game Night #20: For Sale

My nephew asks to play For Sale several times a week. Fortunately, it’s a game the adults in our family enjoy as much as the kids do.

For Sale is a card game with two decks of cards and some money tokens. The concept is buying and selling real estate. In the first phase of the game players are bidding for property, using the money tokens. In the second phase the players try to sell their properties for top dollar.

It’s simple to learn but there are chances to use strategy. Game play is quick – 20 or 30 minutes at most. This means you can play several rounds if you want to. We’ve found this helps decrease frustration with a round that goes poorly for a certain player. So, unlike other property buying and selling games, you can finish a game and the entire family is still speaking to each other. {wink}

Playing with kids does add some flair to the game. We have one child who absolutely loves to “Win” the dog house during the buying phase, even though it’s a low value card. And then there’s that outhouse card which may inspire some levity. (After you explain what an outhouse is, of course.)

for sale cardsSome educational benefits of For Sale:

  • You calculate your score by adding up the money cards after the second phase, plus whatever money tokens you had left from the first round.
  • Probability plays a role in strategy, because the thirty money cards in the second phase range from $0 to $15,000. Can you get a bargain or will you get stuck with a $0?

Summary of For Sale

Number of Players: 3-6

Recommended Ages: 8+, but our 5 year old plays with us and my 7 year old nephew absolutely loves to play

Reading required: No, but knowing your numbers will help

For Sale can be found online for less than $25. I haven’t seen it at major retail stores like Target or Wal-Mart yet.

Have you played For Sale? Do you have a favorite property buying game?
