Buying a home while deciding to sell or rent your existing home is simple, but it's not easy.
Thinking About Moving to a Bigger Home or Downsizing? Here’s How to Sell and Buy Seamlessly?
Is your current home starting to feel a little too cozy—or maybe way too big? You’re not alone. Many homeowners are making the move this year, and I’m here to help make it as smooth as possible!
Buying and selling at the same time might sound overwhelming, but with the right plan, it can actually be exciting (yes, really!).
I’ve had the privilege of helping families all across the area—from the Lyons family moving from Lincoln to Abbott to the Jones family upgrading to their dream home on the hill. It’s all about strategy, and I’ve got plenty of that to share.
I help home buyers and sellers of all sizes and price ranges—whether you're looking for condos, single-family homes, or multi-family properties. No matter what stage of life you're in or what type of home you're dreaming about, I’m here to help make it happen.
First decide if you Should sell before you buy.
Selling before buying gives you peace of mind, knowing exactly what budget you’ll have to work with when purchasing your new home. This is crucial as the market shifts frequently.
Not knowing where you are heading can make some feel a little nervous, for others it can feel like a thrilling adventure.
In either case there are ways to protect yourself during the process:
- Suitable Housing Contingency
- This lets you market your home while searching for the next one. If you can’t find a new home in a time you’re comfortable with you can cancel your sale.
- This might limit potential buyers, but for those not in a rush, it could be a win-win that helps you. The way this works is in your listing we say "This sale is subject to the seller obtaining suitable housing within X days. Should seller be unable to do so the sale will be cancelled and the buyer's deposit will be refunded in full"
- Financing Contingency
- When we find the right home and we find the right buyer for your home, you can use a financing contingency for both. If the financing falls through for your new home, you’re off the hook from selling your current one as long as this is in both offers. Ask me for details. Both offers must have this contingency written in. Financing contingency could sound like " This sale of the seller's property at 124 Main is subject to the seller receiving suitable financing on their purchase within X days"
- Home Sale Contingency
- When you write your offer on your next home, you use this contingency so that if your home fails to sell for any reason at all you’re not forced to forfeit your deposit or buy the 2nd home. Simple, right? It can be a bit complex, but I’ve got the know-how to make it work smoothly. The language is clear and thorough so all parties know what to expect "This purchase is subject to the sale of the buyer's primary residence at 124 Main st Andover Ma, should no sale take place deposits to be refunded in full and sale to be cancelled".
Many of my clients use a combination of these contingencies to stay protected throughout the entire process
Bonus Tip: List your home before you submit an offer on another one. Even if it’s the same day, doing it first shows sellers you’re serious. If you can't list it ahead of time at least have the professional photos done and ready to go.
Thinking About Buying First?
- Chat with a Lender – You might qualify to buy before selling. Need a great lender in Southern NH or Northern MA? I have some fantastic recommendations that you can trust. It's crucial to know whether you can buy first to then consider whether you should.
- Rent Out Your Current Home – Sometimes renting your home makes more sense. I can help you explore rental pricing and management options. Many lenders can use the rental income to help you qualify for your next home.
- Tap into Savings – Borrowing from a 401(k), retirement account, or family can give you flexibility and lower stress.
- HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) – This can provide the funds you need to buy now and pay it back later when you sell.
Here are the steps to make it easy.
- Know Your Home’s Value
- I consistently sell homes for 101.4% of the list price. Want to know what your home could sell for? Let’s chat about your goals and your home, then I’ll create a custom selling calendar, marketing strategy and pricing scenarios for you to consider.
- Know your sale timeline - in Massachusetts the average time a seller accepts an offer is 35 days, our average is 5.5 days giving you more control over your process.
- Get Pre-Approved and then Pre - Committed
- Don’t wait to get pre-approved - then get pre committed. Ask me about the difference. Sellers will take you more seriously, and you’ll know exactly what you can afford.
- Start House Hunting
- Let’s find your perfect home! Think about the must-haves and nice-to-haves, and we’ll narrow down the best options in Southern NH and Northern MA. I’ll watch for both public and private sales, off market opportunities, estate sales, distressed sales like foreclosures and auctions even.
- Make a Strong Offer
- I’ll find out who the sellers are, what they are hoping for, where they are hoping to move to, why they are moving and what pricing they are likely to accept to help you craft a winning bid without breaking the bank.
- Coordinate Closings
- Selling in the morning and buying in the afternoon? I’ve done it many times, and I’ll coordinate the details with your lender, your attorney, the buyers, their lender etc so you don’t have to.
- Closing Day Prep
- Make sure your home is empty and sparkling at least 24 hours before closing. This ensures a smooth walkthrough and no last-minute hiccups.
I’m here to make your real estate experience in Southern NH and Northern MA seamless and even fun! Let’s connect and get started today.
Areas I Serve :
I’m proud to help people with budgets of all sizes for homes of all sizes and styles in Northern Massachusetts (Essex and Middlesex Counties), Southern New Hampshire (Rockingham County), and the Seacoast Region of New Hampshire. Here are just a few of the communities I specialize in:
Northern Massachusetts (Essex County) Real Estate:
- Andover Real Estate
- North Andover Real Estate
- Methuen Real Estate
- Haverhill Real Estate
- Lawrence Real Estate
- Boxford Real Estate
- Georgetown Real Estate
- Newburyport Real Estate
- Amesbury Real Estate
- Middleton Real Estate
- Topsfield Real Estate
- Salem, MA Real Estate
- Beverly Real Estate
- Lynnfield Real Estate
Northern Massachusetts (Middlesex County) Real Estate:
- Lowell Real Estate
- Chelmsford Real Estate
- Billerica Real Estate
- Tewksbury Real Estate
- Westford Real Estate
- Dracut Real Estate
- Wilmington Real Estate
- Reading Real Estate
- Lexington Real Estate
- Bedford Real Estate
Southern New Hampshire (Rockingham County) Real Estate:
- Salem, NH Real Estate
- Windham Real Estate
- Londonderry Real Estate
- Derry Real Estate
- Hampstead Real Estate
- Atkinson Real Estate
- Plaistow Real Estate
- Exeter Real Estate
- Portsmouth Real Estate
- Seabrook Real Estate
- Rye Real Estate
- Bedford Real Estate
- Hudson Real Estate
Seacoast New Hampshire Real Estate:
- Portsmouth Real Estate
- Hampton Real Estate
- Dover Real Estate
- Exeter Real Estate
- Greenland Real Estate
- New Castle Real Estate
- North Hampton Real Estate
- Stratham Real Estate
