Can you buy a larger home before selling your current one? For Vickie, having funds available for a down payment and room in her budget to temporarily carry two mortgages made it possible. She purchased the Southeast Portland home she loved, moved, and then prepared her Aloha home for sale.
That flexibility helped her secure her next home, but the months of overlapping payments were challenging. Her story shows both the opportunity and the financial pressure that can come with buying first.
From a First Home to a Home With More Space
Vickie’s first move was from a rental in Beaverton to a home of her own in Aloha.
When it was time to move again, her goals had changed. She wanted a larger home and a location closer to her fiancé’s work.
Coordinating the sale and purchase was a major concern. She would have preferred to use the proceeds from her Aloha home toward the purchase, and she wanted to understand what paying for both homes would mean.
Her current home also needed improvements before it would be ready to list. Moving out first would give her space to get that work done.
Finding the Next Home by Chance
The Southeast Portland home wasn’t one they originally planned to see. They drove past it on the way to another property and liked it immediately.
At first, they assumed it would be outside their budget. When they looked it up, they discovered it was within reach.
Finding that home moved the decision forward sooner than expected. They had cash available for the down payment and determined that their monthly budget could handle overlapping payments for a limited time.
Vickie decided to buy first rather than wait for her Aloha home to sell.
Understanding the Tradeoffs Before Moving Forward
Buying first meant Vickie could secure the home she wanted and move before preparing her previous home for buyers. It also meant carrying the costs of two homes until the sale closed.
We talked through the options, their pros and cons, and what could happen if the sale took longer than hoped.
As Vickie shared in her questionnaire:
“He is not afraid to warn you about possible negative outcomes.”
For her, understanding the risks was part of making an informed decision. The purchase inspection was another important step, and she reported that it revealed no major issues.
Preparing and Selling the Aloha Home
After moving, Vickie completed improvements to the Aloha home and used a professional stager, which she found helpful.
The sale proved more difficult than the purchase. Activity was limited, and we adjusted the asking price as the listing continued.
Vickie described four difficult months on the market while paying two mortgages. She understood the reasons for the pricing changes, but that didn’t make them easy.
During that time, I stayed in contact, researched the market, and kept her informed about the status of the sale.
Once a buyer was in place, we worked through negotiations over repairs and credits. Reaching an agreement was an important step toward completing the sale and ending the overlapping payments.
The Result: A Home She Loves
Vickie completed the sale of her Aloha home and settled into the larger Southeast Portland home she had been excited about from the beginning.
She was clear that having the financial resources to manage the overlap made the timing possible. My role was to help her understand her options, negotiate both transactions, and stay informed as the sale progressed.
Looking back, she shared:
“We LOVE our new home and are glad to be here, even if it was a stretch.”
Thinking About Buying Before You Sell?
Buying first can give you flexibility, but it also means planning for the possibility that your current home takes longer to sell than expected.
Through my Level Up Method, I’ll help you work through the timing, preparation, and tradeoffs, along with the financing questions to discuss with your lender.
Start at move.levelupgroupnw.com, and let’s talk about what you want from your next home and what it could take to get there.