Buying and selling at the same time
The Lined Up Method: sell your home and buy the next one in one planned move.
If you own a home in Southlake, Colleyville, Keller, or anywhere in Dallas-Fort Worth and need to sell it to buy the next one, the hardest question is not which house. It is which order. The Lined Up Method is how I, Amy Spock, Realtor with SERHANT., answer that question for each client, so the sale, the purchase, and the financing fall into a sequence that works, and you move once.
The problem
Most people cannot carry two mortgages, and almost no one wants to move twice.
Sell first, and you may end up in temporary housing with your furniture in storage. Buy first, and you may carry two payments while your current home sits. Each path has a cost. The right one depends on your equity, your lender, your timeline, and how competitive the market is for the home you want and the home you are leaving.
That is why I do not answer “sell first or buy first?” with “it depends.” I lay out every option, with numbers, and we choose the sequence together before you fall in love with anything.
Your options
Five ways to line up a move.
1. Buy with a sale contingency.
Your offer on the next home depends on your current home selling by a set date. It protects you from owning two homes, but sellers weigh contingent offers against clean ones, so it works best when your current home is already prepared, priced, and ready to list the day you go under contract.
2. Buy first with bridge financing or a HELOC.
A bridge loan or a home equity line of credit lets you draw on the equity in your current home to make a non-contingent offer on the next one. You close on the purchase, move on your own schedule, then sell. I work with a lender who structures these every week, and we run the numbers before you write an offer so you know exactly what the overlap will cost.
3. Sell first with a leaseback.
You accept an offer on your current home with a leaseback written into the contract, so you stay in the home for an agreed period after closing while you close on the next one. It is one of the cleanest ways to avoid moving twice, and it has to be negotiated before you accept an offer, not after.
4. Sell first with temporary housing.
Sometimes the right answer is to sell, bank the proceeds, and take your time finding the next home from a short-term rental. It costs a second move, but it removes every contingency from your purchase and can make your offer the strongest one on the table.
5. Coordinate with an agent in another state.
If your current home is outside Texas, I connect you with a trusted agent from my referral network there and coordinate both timelines directly with them, so the sale in one state and the purchase here close in the order you need.
How it works
The Lined Up Method, step by step.
- We price and prepare your current home first. Before we look at anything, you know what your home is worth today and what it needs to be ready, so every decision after that rests on a real number.
- We line up the financing. My lender partner reviews your equity and income and tells us which of the options above you qualify for, and what each one costs.
- We choose the sequence. Together we pick the path that fits your finances, your timeline, and your tolerance for overlap. You see the plan in writing.
- We time the two contracts. I write the contingencies and closing dates so the sale and the purchase close in the order we planned, with the terms protecting you rather than the other side.
- You move once. From listing to closing on both sides, you hear from me before you need to ask. You will never have to guess what happens next.
A recent example
Buying in Keller, selling in Dallas.
These clients found the right home in Keller before their Dallas home was on the market. They had young children and did not want to move them until the school year ended, about a month away.
We used a HELOC on the Dallas home so they could make a non-contingent offer in Keller. They closed on the purchase first, finished the school year, and moved on their own schedule. Then we listed the Dallas home, and it sold within a few days.
One move, no contingency on the purchase, and no rush at the end of the school year.
During the holidays, she helped us rapidly sell our house and buy a new one. She proactively communicated and executed flawlessly on every step from securing the contract, handling inspections, and closings.
Sold and bought with Amy, Zillow review
Questions I hear most
Frequently asked questions.
Should I sell first or buy first?
It depends on your finances, your timeline, and the market for each home. Through The Lined Up Method, I walk you through every option, including a sale contingency, bridge financing, a HELOC, a leaseback, or temporary housing, and help you choose the sequence that fits.
Can I make an offer contingent on selling my home?
Yes. Sellers weigh contingent offers against non-contingent ones, so the offer is strongest when your current home is already prepared, priced, and ready to list the day you go under contract.
What is a bridge loan, and do I qualify?
A bridge loan is short-term financing secured by the equity in your current home, used to buy the next one before you sell. Qualification depends on your equity, income, and the lender’s program. My lender partner reviews this with you early so there are no surprises.
Can I stay in my home after it sells?
Often, yes. A leaseback lets you remain in the home for an agreed period after closing. It is negotiated as part of the contract, so it is best to plan for it before you accept an offer.
What if my home sells before I find the next one?
That is where a leaseback or short-term housing comes in. We plan for this possibility before we list, so you are choosing between options you already understand rather than reacting under pressure.
What if I find the right home before mine sells?
This is the most common situation, and it is what bridge financing, a HELOC, and sale contingencies are built for. We decide in advance which one you would use so you can act on the right home when it appears.
Can you help me sell my home in another state?
Yes. I connect you with a trusted agent from my referral network in that state and coordinate both timelines with them directly.
How do I avoid paying two mortgages?
By choosing the sequence before you commit to either side. A sale contingency, a leaseback, or a sale before purchase each avoids overlap; bridge financing accepts a short, planned overlap in exchange for a stronger offer. We put the real cost of each on paper.
How long does it take to coordinate both closings?
It depends on the financing you choose and how quickly your current home sells. The timeline, including both closing dates, is set in the plan before you list, so you know what to expect from the start.
Begin with a conversation.
Twenty minutes. No pitch. Tell me about both homes and your timeline, and you will leave with a clear picture of which sequence fits. I would rather show you the plan than tell you it depends.