By Kelsey Donovan, REALTOR® | My Home Group
“We want to move, but we have to sell our house first. Or buy first? We honestly don’t know.”
I hear some version of this a lot. And I get it. Buying and selling a home at the same time feels like trying to land two planes on one runway.
Here’s the good news. It’s done all the time in Scottsdale, and it doesn’t have to mean moving twice or living out of a storage unit. It just takes a plan, and the plan has to come before you fall in love with a house.
A real example
A while back my clients called me and said, “we have a crazy idea.”
Their home wasn’t even listed yet. But a house had just hit the market and they needed to see it. So we went. And it was the one.
I negotiated hard to get the sellers to accept an offer that was contingent on the sale of my clients’ home. A home that wasn’t on the market yet. Not an easy ask. We got their timeline and five figures under list price.
Then I listed their home and went all in on the marketing. We received five offers, and the buyer was someone who stumbled across the home on TikTok.
One move. Mission accomplished.
It doesn’t always line up that neatly, and I’d never promise you it will. But it shows what’s possible when both sides are planned together.
Your options for buying and selling at the same time
There isn’t one right way to do this. There’s the way that fits your finances, your timeline and your stress tolerance.
1. Sell first, then buy
You list your home, get it under contract, and then shop knowing exactly what you have to spend.
Why people like it: You’re a stronger buyer, and you’re never carrying two mortgages.
The trade-off: You need somewhere to land in between. That’s where a longer escrow or staying in your home for a short time after closing can help (more on that below).
2. Buy first, then sell
You buy the new home before your current one sells.
Why people like it: You only move once, on your schedule, and your old home can be staged and shown empty.
The trade-off: You have to qualify to carry both homes for a while, or have another way to fund the down payment. A lender can walk you through options like a bridge loan or using the equity in your current home. I’m not a lender, so this is a conversation I set up for my clients early.
3. Make your offer contingent on selling your home
In Arizona, this is usually done with a buyer contingency addendum to the purchase contract. In plain English: you agree to buy the new home, as long as your current home sells.
Why people like it: It protects you from owning two homes at once.
The trade-off: Not every seller will say yes, and it can make your offer less competitive. Sellers typically keep the right to accept a backup offer, and if they do, you get a short window to either remove your contingency or step aside. It works best when your home is priced right, prepped and ready to go.
4. Line up both closings
This is the dream scenario. Your sale and your purchase close back to back, and the moving truck makes one trip.
It takes coordination between both contracts, your lender, and the title and escrow teams. It’s also where having one agent on both sides of your move makes a real difference, because I’m watching both timelines at once.
Two tools that make the timing work
A longer or flexible close of escrow. Sometimes the simplest fix is negotiating a closing date that gives you room to find your next home.
Staying in your home after closing. Sometimes called a rent-back or post-possession agreement. The buyer closes, and you stay for an agreed period while your purchase finishes up. These come with real risks around insurance and liability for both sides, so they need to be in writing, kept short, and reviewed with the right professionals before you sign.
3 things I’d do before buying and selling at the same time
1. Talk to a lender before you look at a single house. You need to know whether you can buy before you sell, and what your numbers look like both ways. That one conversation decides which of the options above are even on the table.
2. Find out what your home will realistically sell for. Not the number you saw online. A real pricing conversation based on what’s selling right now in your neighborhood. Your whole budget is built on this number, so it has to be honest. You can start with a home valuation here.
3. Get your home ready before you need it to be. Repairs, decluttering, photos, the marketing plan. When the right house shows up, you want to be able to list in days, not weeks. That’s what makes a contingent offer believable to a seller.
Mistakes I see (and how to avoid them)
- Falling in love with a house before you know your numbers
- Pricing your current home too high and watching it sit while your purchase clock runs
- Assuming every seller will accept a contingent offer
- Leaving no cushion between closings for a delay
- Using two different agents who aren’t talking to each other
Buying and selling at the same time: FAQ
Is it better to buy or sell first?
It depends on your finances and how much risk you’re comfortable with. Selling first is safer financially. Buying first is easier on your life. A lot of my clients land somewhere in the middle with a contingent offer or back-to-back closings.
Will a seller accept an offer that’s contingent on my home selling?
Some will and some won’t. It depends on the home, how long it’s been on the market, and how ready your home is to sell. A strong, well-prepared listing on your side makes a big difference.
Can I use the money from my sale as my down payment?
Often, yes, when the closings are coordinated. Your lender and escrow officer will confirm how it works for your loan.
Let’s map out your move
If you’re thinking about buying and selling in Scottsdale or anywhere in the Phoenix area, I’d love to help you build the plan first. No pressure, just a clear picture of your options.
Kelsey Donovan, REALTOR® | My Home Group | 480-200-8689
This is general information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Every sale is different and past results don’t guarantee future ones. Talk with your lender, and the appropriate legal, tax and insurance professionals, about your situation.