Steps to Sell & Buy Your Next Home

When you need to sell one home and buy another, timing and financing are linked. This guide shows how both sides can work together.

1. Clarify Your Big Picture

  • You: Share why you’re moving, ideal timing and whether you can move twice (temporary housing) or prefer one move.
  • We: Review your current mortgage, estimated equity and what you want in the next home.

2. Estimate Equity & Buying Power

  • We: Prepare a market estimate and net sheet for your current home.
  • Mortgage side: Use your income, debts and estimated new payment to outline price ranges and loan options.

3. Choose a Sell-Then-Buy Strategy

  • Sell first, then buy with cash from the sale.
  • Buy first using special financing or reserves, then sell.
  • Contract both with contingency wording tying the two together.

4. Prepare & Launch Your Listing

  • Declutter, stage key rooms and complete simple repairs.
  • Professional photos, MLS listing and online marketing.
  • Set showing instructions and open-house options.

5. Search for Your Next Home

  • Use filters for area, price, size and features that match your plan.
  • Tour homes and compare payment scenarios with the calculators.
  • Adjust target price or timing as needed.
  • Complete Find Your Home so we can connect listings to your plan.

6. Coordinate Offers on Both Homes

  • On your sale: Negotiate price, closing date and contingencies.
  • On your purchase: Write an offer that fits your financing and closing schedule.
  • Work to keep appraisal, loan approval and closing dates aligned.

7. Inspections, Appraisals & Loan Approval

  • Buyer inspections on your current home and your new home.
  • Appraisals ordered by the lender(s).
  • Final underwriting approval once conditions are cleared.

8. Back-to-Back (or Same-Day) Closings

  • Sale closing first so proceeds are available for your purchase.
  • Purchase closing follows using funds from the sale as needed.
  • Coordinate moving trucks, utility changes and key hand-offs.

9. After Closing

  • Review mortgage payment setup, escrow and tax information.
  • Plan future check-ins for potential refinance or equity reviews.
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