Selling one home while buying the next.

The real question

Do you sell first, buy first, or run both in parallel?

Most move-up buyers assume they’ll sell the current home, stash the equity, and buy the next one. That was the 2019 playbook. In today’s market, with bridge financing, sale-contingent offers, and rent-back agreements all on the menu, the right answer is different for nearly every client.

Omar runs through the four main options with you:

• Sell first. Safer on the sale side, but you risk being out of a home. Works if you have flexible housing (family, corporate housing, short-term rental).
• Buy first with bridge financing. You get the next home locked, then sell. Higher carrying cost, but control over timing. Works for buyers with liquidity or strong equity in the current home.
• Contingent offer.Offer on the next home contingent on selling yours. Weaker offer position; works in buyer’s markets or less-competitive segments.
• Rent-back.Sell first, then rent back from the new owner while you close on the next. Common in seller’s markets. Requires cooperative buyer.

The right answer depends on your equity, your risk tolerance, your timeline, and which side of the market you’re more exposed to. That’s a 30-minute conversation, not an article. Schedule one below.