Buying a new home can be an exciting adventure, but it can also be challenging if you want to sell your current one at the same time.

Balancing the complexities of these two transactions requires careful planning, organization, and a clear strategy. Use this guide as your compass for navigating the choppy waters of buying and selling homes simultaneously.

Understand the market conditions

Conducting dual-market research will arm you with the knowledge you need to make sound real estate decisions. To price your home competitively and attract potential buyers more effectively, you need to know the current trends and property values in your selling market. On the flip side, being well-versed on the area where you’re buying will allow you to recognize good deals and negotiate with confidence. You will also want to explore the neighborhoods in your potential new locale to ensure you choose a location that aligns with your lifestyle and plans.

Asses your finances

Your financial situation will play a key role in this process. Determine how much equity you have in your current home, if you need the proceeds from selling it to purchase the next one, and whether you can take care of your down payment and closing costs—each of these factors may impact if it would be better for you to buy or sell first. Should you need to cover the time between buying and selling, consider obtaining a bridge loan to help with short-term financing.

Include a sale contingency 

By sheer nature, simultaneously buying and selling a home means that glitches can occur. These interruptions in the closing process have the potential to manifest in either transaction and from either party. They can include funding problems, last-minute walk-through issues, or unmet contingencies that lead to a holdup in purchasing your next home, initiating a chain reaction and impacting all parties involved. Incorporating a sale contingency into the contract of your home purchase or sale (or both) can offer a valuable layer of safeguarding. Should the sale of your current home encounter complications, you won’t be obligated to proceed with the purchase of the new property. Similarly, if the acquisition of that new property encounters delays, you won’t have to sell your existing property prematurely.

Coordinate closings

If your goal is to have the sale of your old home and the purchase of your new one occur on the same day, discuss the timing with both your prospective buyer and the seller of your new property during the negotiation phase of the transactions. Also, keep in mind that timelines can become unpredictable when you’re selling your current home while building a new one. This situation might necessitate backup plans to prepare for unexpected delays in its construction. One viable option may be to look into arranging back-to-back escrow, in which the proceeds from the sale go directly to the purchase of the new property. This creates a process that minimizes the gap between selling and buying, reducing your chances of carrying two mortgages.

Seek professional guidance

Having the right team on your side is essential. Enlist the help of an experienced real estate agent who understands the intricacies of simultaneous transactions. Their expertise will streamline the process and provide you with the necessary support to make informed decisions.