Can You Buy a New Home Before Selling Your Current One?

By Mark Callender

Hello, my name is Mark Callender and I am a licensed real estate agent with RE/MAX Results. Because I have been helping families buy and sell their homes for more than 18 years, I am now helping their children to buy their first homes and their parents to downsize. No matter the direction you’re moving, my goal is to make the process as calm and enjoyable as it can be.

Can you really buy a new home before selling your current one? This is one of the most common concerns I hear from sellers, and my short answer is yes. This concern is completely valid because nobody wants to feel rushed or end up homeless. Fortunately, there’s a simple way to address that concern–contingent offers.

So, what is a contingency, and how can it help? Essentially, a contingency is a simple statement added to your listing that says the sale of your home is subject to you finding a new home. I also like to call it a “suitable replacement clause.” Contingencies give you the time and flexibility you need.

With inventory being so low in today’s market, this kind of protection is necessary. Buyers understand that options are limited for everyone. If they find a home they love—like yours—they are often willing to wait while you search for your next one.

In my experience, nine out of ten of these transactions successfully close. If you’ve been putting off listing your home because you’re worried about finding a new one, don’t let that stop you.

A lot of sellers don’t realize that these options exist, but they do—and they can make the experience much smoother and more rewarding. If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call at 612-961-9448 or send an email to Mark@MarkCallenderHomes.com. I’m happy to answer them.