Selling and Buying a Home at the Same Time in Baltimore
A plan for the sale and the purchase, built around your numbers and your timeline.
Buy first or sell first?
If you need to sell one home and buy another, the first question is usually the same: which comes first?
The answer depends on you. It depends on your needs, your numbers, and the market. There isn't one right order, so we follow the one that works best for you.
We will make a plan together and give ourselves the option to be flexible if needed.
Tell me about your move
The ways it can work
Here are the paths I see most often.
- Buy first. We go under contract on your next home, then prepare your current home and list it while you still live there.
- Buy first, then prepare. Some clients wait until they've moved out. That gives them room to make updates and get the house ready for the market, and we list it when it's ready.
- Sell first. Some clients want to know their proceeds before they commit to a purchase. They sell first, then buy.
- Same-day settlement. Sometimes we can settle the sale and the purchase on the same day.
- Rent-back. Sometimes you sell with a rent-back, which lets you stay in the home after settlement, and close on your purchase after your sale has settled.
Which one fits depends on your timeline, your finances, and what the market is doing.
How we plan it
Every plan starts with your numbers. Before anything goes on the market, we look at what your home is likely to sell for and what you want to buy. That gives us a good idea of the range we're working in.
We bring a lender in early. That way you understand your obligations and the options you have before you commit to any of them.
Then we build the plan: the order, the timing, and what happens if a piece moves. We make sure there's a plan in place to handle every contingency, and we protect your best interest on both sides of the move.
Selling your home
When your home goes on the market, it goes through the same four stages we use for every sale: Equity, Presentation, Impact, and Campaign. See how each stage works.
If you've already moved out, the house can be made show-ready, with updates and staging, before it's listed.
Buying your next home
On the buying side, we follow the same four stages as every purchase: Ready, Educated, Aligned, and Locked. Read the whole buying process.
A recent example
I recently worked with clients who were buying and selling at the same time. We found a house for them to buy, with a good idea of what their current home would sell for. Once we were under contract on the purchase, we prepared their home for sale.
After they moved out, we made the house show-ready with some updates and staging. When it was ready, we listed it, received an offer, and sold the house.
Let's plan your move
If you're selling and buying, tell me where you are and what you need. We'll start with your numbers and build the plan from there. Tell me about your move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy first or sell first?
It depends on your needs, your numbers, and the market. Some clients buy first and prepare their home while living in it. Some move out first. Some sell first to know their proceeds. We follow the order that works best for you.
Can the sale and the purchase settle on the same day?
Sometimes we can. When we can't, there are other ways to line them up, like a rent-back.
What is a rent-back?
You sell your home and stay in it after settlement, so you can close on your purchase after your sale has settled.
Do I need a lender involved?
We bring one in early so you understand your obligations and your options before you commit.
Can I prepare my home while I still live in it?
Yes. Some clients do. Others wait until they've moved out, so the house can be made show-ready with updates and staging.
What if I keep my current home?
Then you're buying without selling, and the plan changes. We talk about your carrying costs and what you plan to rent the home for, so you're not in a negative cash flow position. We also talk about your obligations, such as inspections, a rental license, and lead paint testing, if required. We give you direction on what to think about besides collecting a rent check.
Keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Figurelle Team of Cummings & Co. Realtors?