Selling your current home while buying your next one can feel like trying to land two planes at the same time. As a REALTOR here in Arizona, it’s one of the most common — and most stressful — situations my clients face.
Whether you’re moving across town in Chandler, relocating to Scottsdale for a new job, or upsizing in Gilbert to fit your growing family, the strategy matters. A lot!
Here’s what I tell every client who’s selling and buying at the same time.
1. Timing Is Everything — But It’s Also Flexible
In an ideal world, you’d sell your home for top dollar and close on your new one the very same day. While that can happen, it requires careful coordination between lenders, title companies, and both sides of the transaction.
In Arizona, we often use tools like:
Post-possession agreements (you stay in your home for a short time after closing)
Leasebacks
Extended escrow periods
Contingent offers
The key is building flexibility into at least one side of the transaction. Trying to make both and being rigid rarely works as each party will have their own needs.
2. Know Your Market — It Changes Your Strategy
The strategy for buying and selling simultaneously depends heavily on whether we’re in a buyer’s market or seller’s market.
In competitive areas like Chandler or Scottsdale, you may need to sell first so your offer is stronger and not contingent.
In a slower market, you may have more leverage to negotiate a contingency or longer closing window.
Before we make a plan, I analyze:
Current inventory levels
Average days on market
List-to-sale price ratios
Seasonal trends (Arizona’s spring market is very different from late summer)
Strategy without market data is just guessing.
3. Your Financing Needs a Clear Plan
If you need the equity from your current home to purchase the next one, we must time the closings carefully.
Options I often discuss with clients include:
Bridge loans
HELOCs
Temporary housing
Selling first, then buying
Buying first, then selling
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on:
Your equity position
Your risk tolerance
Your cash reserves
Your comfort level carrying two mortgages (even briefly)
The worst situation is falling in love with a home before knowing what’s financially realistic.
4. Emotion Can Complicate Logistics
Selling a home is emotional. Buying a new one is exciting. Doing both at once amplifies everything.
I remind my clients:
You may need to compromise on timing.
You may not win the first house you offer on.
Your current home may take longer (or sell faster) than expected.
Temporary inconvenience doesn’t mean long-term failure.
The goal isn’t perfection — it’s a smooth transition.
5. Preparation Reduces Stress
When clients tell me they want to sell and buy simultaneously, we start preparing immediately.
That means:
Decluttering and pre-listing repairs before we even write an offer on the next home
Getting fully underwritten with a lender
Running net sheets so you know exactly what you’ll walk away with
Creating a timeline map with backup scenarios
The smoother your sale, the more power you are as a buyer.
6. Sometimes the Best Move Is a Two-Step Plan
I’m honest with clients: sometimes trying to do both at once creates unnecessary pressure.
In some cases, the smartest move is:
Sell.
Move into short-term housing.
Buy without a contingency.
This can dramatically strengthen your negotiating position, especially in competitive Arizona markets.
Yes, it means moving twice. But it can also mean:
A better purchase price
Stronger terms
Less risk
It’s about playing the long game.
7. Communication Is the Glue That Holds It Together
When you’re juggling two escrows, communication matters more than ever. I coordinate closely with:
Lenders
Title companies
The buyer’s agent
The seller’s agent
Inspectors and appraisers
A missed signature or delayed appraisal can affect both sides of the your transactions. My job is to anticipate issues before they become problems.
Final Thoughts
Selling and buying at the same time in Arizona isn’t impossible — it just requires strategy, flexibility, and a clear financial picture.
The biggest mistake I see? Clients assuming the transactions will “just line up.” They can — but only with a plan.
If you’re considering making a move anywhere in the Valley, whether it’s Mesa, Tempe, or Chandler or beyond, the first step isn’t touring homes.
It’s building the roadmap.
Because when you’re selling and buying at the same time, success isn’t about luck — it’s about strategy. 📞 Reach out today for a strategy consultation. The right plan makes all the difference.
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