Buying or selling a home can be a big undertaking. Doing both at the same time takes the complexity to a whole new level.

If you are buying and selling a home at the same time, you need to navigate the hot seller market as both a seller and a buyer. On the one hand, you will benefit from a seller’s market, but as a buyer, you may face challenges.

There is a lot of urgency and competition in the market as there are fewer homes for sale than buyers. However, there are signs that the housing market is starting to cool down.

There’s no way that the process of buying or selling a home is completely predictable, but thinking through the strategies you choose can help you navigate the ups and downs a little easier.

While you can’t control the market, you can plan ahead to minimize potential challenges.

Here are some expert tips to address some of the questions you may have when buying and selling your home at the same time.

Advice to buy and sell at the same time

When buying a new home and selling an old one at the same time, one transaction always comes first. Sometimes one comes first because of personal preference, and other times, it’s a matter of finding the right home before you’re ready to sell. In such a hot market, each of these moves must be carefully considered and a qualified real estate agent can help strategize based on local market conditions.

Whichever way you choose, these expert tips will help you have a successful transaction and reduce the stress of buying and selling at the same time.

Buying a home before selling it

While some buyers can buy a new home without waiting to sell their current home, many do not have that luxury.

To move the proceeds from a sale forward on a new home, it’s time to come up with an offer. This means that the home buyer has some time to sell their current home to help finance the new home. Purchase. “Even if the pending offers aren’t as strong, there are still ways you can help yourself,” says Shelby Osborne, CEO of Exp Realty’s Five Pillars Group in Charlotte, North Carolina.

For home buyers planning to make an emergency offer, consider the following:

1. Request an extended closing. While most buyers want to move into their new home right away, you still need time to sell yours. As part of your purchase offer, ask for a 60-day extended closing to give you more time to find a buyer.
2. Be prepared to market your current home. By preparing your home for listing in advance (fresh paint on the walls, clutter-free and spacious arrangements), you’ll be ready to publish your listing and attract a buyer as soon as you put your new home under contract. Osborne recommends “talking to your agent about how to prepare your home to sell.”
3. Make an offer based on selling your current home. Having this contingency in your purchase contract allows you the option to back out of the purchase if you are unable to sell your home. This contingency allows you to cancel the purchase without legal consequences and saves you from losing your deposit.
4. By A Home inspection Or Assessment contingency. They are clauses intended to protect the buyer and seller from formally expressing their interest, assuming certain conditions can be met.
5. Using a Hello To pay your down payment. Homeowners with an established HELOC can use their lines of credit to finance a down payment on a new home. When the home is sold, the HELOC balance is paid off from the sale proceeds. Make sure you can afford the extra monthly payment that comes with borrowing this money.

Advantages of buying first

• Ability to take your time to find the right home
• It guarantees that you will have a new home to move into when your old home is sold
• You only have to pay for transportation costs once

Disadvantages of buying first

• If your old home doesn’t sell, you may have to make two loan payments at once.
• You are still making payments on the old loan to qualify for the new loan.
• Financial difficulties may lead you to accept a lower offer on your home.

Selling a home before buying it

In some cases, selling your home before considering your next move can be beneficial. “Some sellers are selling to a tenant or leasing back from a buyer to lock in their profits and finish their equity,” said David Lee, co-owner of The David Lee Group with Keller Williams in Yorba Linda. , California Some sellers are waiting for lower prices before buying again. Others are considering moving to a lower cost location.

If you are considering selling your home before buying a new one, keep these tips in mind:

1. Ask for a lease to provide more time. Leasebacks allow sellers to “rent” their home for up to 60 days after selling. “It gives sellers more time to find the property or something that delays the purchase,” said Lee, a defender of the lease.
2. Keep personal items in the storage room. Sellers must declutter their home before taking pictures and listing their property. Storage units can hold extra personal belongings if you want to live in them temporarily until you find a new home.
3. Buyers with no contingencies will offer strong offers. If you don’t have to sell your home first when making an offer on a new home, a seller may consider your offer stronger than others. When you first sell your home, you’ll know exactly how much your down payment will be, which will strengthen your offer.

First, the benefits of selling

• It prevents you from making two mortgage payments while you wait to sell your old home
• It’s easy to qualify for a new home loan without a bad credit report on your credit report.

Disadvantages of selling first

• It can leave you homeless for a long time.
• Additional storage and moving costs for all your items
• Home prices may continue to rise before you receive an offer.
• Interest rates may increase before rates are locked in.

Why is it important to know your market?

Knowing what kind of market you’re in can help you make the right choice before you shop for a home or list your property for sale. Here are some features and trends to help you understand what you’re in the market for and what it means for you.

Characteristics of the buyer’s market

• A buyer is more likely to negotiate on price.
• Sellers are generally willing to lower their sales price, approve requested repairs, and accept other buyer-friendly terms.
• Homes have been sitting on the market for a long time
• You will see drops in the price list
• There is no sudden rush of people lining up to check out an open house every Saturday morning.

Characteristics of the seller’s market

• The seller may ignore bids below the list price.
• Buyers need a strong purchase price and a large down payment to make their offer more competitive
• Buyers can get creative with their offers, for example a personalized letter to make it emotional for the sellers
• Buyers are more likely to buy more than their home buying budget.
• Buyers may overpay for a home that needs major work or improvements.
• The buyer is more likely to avoid contingencies.

Note that eliminating contingencies reduces the chance of exiting the trade if something bad happens. For example, getting rid of a home inspection means you won’t be able to learn about expensive repairs after you buy the property.