Buying and selling at the same time? Don’t worry, we have some expert advice for you.

For many people looking to purchase a home, they first have to sell their current home. This can be for either financial reasons or the need to move to a completely new city. Moving at any time can be a stressful experience and then couple that with a home purchase and sale at the same time and the myriad of issues can seem overwhelming. For advice on how to overcome the stresses of the buy/sell/move period be sure to enlist the help of a licensed Realtor and get pre-qualified for a home purchase with your lender of choice.

Everyone’s situation is different and your particular move can vary on a lot of different factors. There are many pitfalls along the way so let’s explore a few options on how to accomplish this endeavor.

Buyer – Move – Sell

By far the easiest and least stressful way to accomplish the move is to buy a new home first, move into the new home and then sell the original home after you have moved out and prepared the home for sale. This requires having the financial flexibility to carry the two mortgages for a period of time, as well as the ability to place a down payment on a home without the sale of the first home. The benefit is you don’t have to coordinate the buy/sell/move all at the same time. Another option is to obtain a bridge loan which can help cover the down payment for the new home while you wait to sell the first home. Talk to your lender about this option or a home equity loan.

Sell – Move – Buy – Move

On the opposite end of the stress spectrum is the option to sell your current home and move into a rental or family home in the interim while you find a new home. This involves two moves and likely obtaining a storage unit for all the items you don’t want to move into the rental with you. Benefits are you don’t have to obtain an expensive bridge loan or home equity loan. You also don’t feel rushed to find a home to buy in a short amount of time which can sometimes lead to bad decisions because you are pressed for time.

Buy – Sell – Move

The third option is to list your home, buy a home, and move all at the same time. Many times you can make the purchase of a home contingent upon the sale of your current home. This will take the sellers cooperation and understanding that the sale of their home requires them to be patient while you sell your own home. This type of arrangement can come with many delays and coordinating the buy/sell closing at the same time can be tricky to negotiate. The benefits are you move just once and no other loans are involved. One of the difficulties is trying to market your current home while at the same time trying to pack boxes up and get ready to move.

Your own personal circumstances can be different and there are many ways these 3 options can change or be negotiated to work in your favor. Be sure to consult with your licensed Realtor and lender before making a decision.

Happy house hunting!