You’ve been through the process of buying a house as a first time home buyer, but now it’s time to move-up to a home that better suits your current needs. Maybe you need a larger home to keep up with your growing family, a home closer to a specific school or maybe you’d prefer living in a different part of the city to make commuting to work simpler? This time buying a new home becomes are little more complicated logistically as you have your current home to sell as well. Plus, you want or need to use the equity from your current home to purchase your new one.
There are several options to choose from when moving up, and the direction you choose to go in can depend on when the purchase of your new home closes in relation to the sale of your old home. Regardless of which choice you make, make sure to get your finances arranged and hire a Seattle real estate agent experienced in the process of moving up. For most people this is not a do-it-yourself project, and good negotiation skills are important. Once you’ve hired your chosen professional, choose one of the three options that best fits your situation.
- Buy First: While this option is not possible for most financial situations, it’s ideal if you can afford two mortgages for a few months. Buy the home you want and move into it, then put your old home on the market. This method is pricey, but will provide you the most ease in moving and settling in. Carrying a temporary mortgage is doable through a bridge loan. Ask your preferred loan originator about this option and see if it is a possibility for you.
- Sell First: This is likely the best financial option for most people, but it is less convenient than buying first and includes more work. Sell your current home and move into a temporary living space (such as a rental home or apartment) while you look for the right home to purchase. You can keep most of your non-vital belongings in storage and only unpack them once you’ve purchased the new home. Given the current Seattle market conditions this option has its risks. You may be “temporarily” displaced for a while until you can secure a new home.
- Contingency Purchase: With this method, you find the home you want to purchase first and make an offer contingent on the sale of your current home. This is a great option on your end, but can be tricky to pull off. Many sellers don’t want to take their home off the market based solely on the possibility that the potential buyer (you) will make a sale on their home soon. In the current Seattle area seller’s market this is a risk sellers do no need to take and likely will not. This option works best in a buyer’s market.
Working closely with your real estate agent and choosing the best option for your financial situation will put you on the quick path to success and put you into your next dream home.
If you’d like to explore more about the different options of selling and buying a new home in Seattle please contact me. I’m always happy to talk with you.
David Warren
Managing Broker | Realtor
Metropolist
425-760-8285
david@metropolistgroup.com