How We Helped a Retired Massachusetts Couple Buy a Snowbird Home in Mesa While Their Own Home Sold

Oct 20

Mary and Steven Dembkowski were retired in Massachusetts and wanted a snowbird home near their son in Arizona. They started their search in Chandler and bought in Sunland Village, a 55+ community in Mesa, for $385,000. Their offer was contingent on selling their Massachusetts home, which was already under contract. We worked by phone and Zoom, and the deal closed August 6, 2026.

Why did a retired couple from Massachusetts want a home in Arizona?

Their son lives here, and they wanted sunshine. Mary and Steven were newly retired and wanted a snowbird home, a place to spend the cold months near family. They also wanted an active adult community, so a 55+ neighborhood was on the list from the start.

How do you shop for a home in Arizona when you live in Massachusetts?

You build trust before you ever land. Mary and Steven found me through an online search while looking at homes in Chandler. We talked by phone first, then on Zoom.

When they flew in to shop, they toured about a dozen homes over two or three trips. I was out of town on a family vacation during their time here, so I connected them with a partner agent to tour homes with them. I never met Mary and Steven in person. That did not slow the deal down.

Their search began in Chandler. They ended up in Mesa, because the value they found in a 55+ community was better there. I sell homes across the Southeast Valley, so I followed the numbers with them.

How does a purchase work when you still have to sell your home?

You tie the two deals together. Mary and Steven's Massachusetts home was already under contract when they wrote their offer on July 2, 2026. Their offer on the Arizona home was contingent on that sale. Part of my job was lining up the timing of the two deals so they fit.

The Mesa home had been on the market for 12 days. It was listed at $385,000. We offered $385,000 and asked for $2,500 in seller concessions. The seller accepted.

What happened between the offer and closing?

Not much, and that is the point. The deal had a few minor repairs and the $2,500 seller credit. Nothing else came up. Mary and Steven used conventional financing, and the deal closed on August 6, 2026, about five weeks after the offer was accepted.

A smooth close is what most people want. It is also what makes a long-distance purchase feel safe.

What worked for Mary and Steven?

Three things worked here. Their Massachusetts home was under contract before they made an offer. The Arizona offer was written to be contingent on that sale. And they were comfortable working by phone and video, with a partner agent covering the showings I could not attend.

If you are retired, selling your home first, and shopping for a winter home in Arizona, those pieces are worth lining up in that order.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy a home in Arizona before my old home closes?

Yes, with a contingent offer. Mary and Steven's offer was contingent on their Massachusetts sale, which was already under contract. Whether a seller accepts depends on the home and the offer, so talk to your agent about the terms before you write it.

Can I buy in Arizona without meeting my agent in person?

Mary and Steven did. We used phone calls and Zoom, and a partner agent toured homes with them when they were in town. I never met them face to face, and the deal closed on time.

How long did this purchase take?

The offer was accepted July 2, 2026, and the deal closed August 6, 2026. That is about five weeks.

What did the home cost?

Mary and Steven paid $385,000, the full list price, and asked for $2,500 in seller concessions.

About the author

Ben Graham, REALTOR since 2011, serving Chandler, Tempe, and the Southeast Valley of Arizona. More than 500 sales, including out-of-state buyers who shopped by phone and Zoom.

Ben Graham

You’ve made it. Now you want a home that finally feels like it.

Since 2011, I’ve helped move-up and move-in buyers do exactly that across South Tempe and South Chandler. More land, more quiet, more character, without leaving the city behind. If you’re buying or selling in Ocotillo, Fulton Ranch, or anywhere in South Tempe or South Chandler, you want an advisor who knows the ground, not a salesperson who knows a script.

That’s the whole job, and it’s the part I love most.

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Ben is a husband, father, and full-time real estate advisor based in Chandler. Since 2011, across more than 500 transactions, he’s guided buyers and sellers through the Southeast Valley’s best neighborhoods.

His approach is simple: teach the market like a teacher, protect your equity like it’s his own, and tell you the truth even when the truth is “wait.” Clear communication, a proven plan, and your interests first.

Most of Ben’s clients fall into two camps.

The move-up buyer who’s outgrown a great starter home in Chandler or Tempe and is ready for something that feels like an arrival. More space, more privacy, more character, same easy access to four freeways, great schools, and Sky Harbor.

The move-in buyer relocating from out of town who needs someone who actually knows which street holds its value and which one only looks like it does.

He also represents sellers across South Tempe and South Chandler who want their home priced right in week one and marketed like the asset it is.

Faith and family are the center of how Ben lives and works. He’s a follower of Christ, a husband, and a father, raising his kids in Chandler with his wife Sarah. The family is active at CCV, the kids attend Valley Christian, and they support foster care and adoption. One of their sons joined the family that way.

Clients often tell Ben his faith is part of why they trusted him with one of the biggest decisions of their lives. He doesn’t take that lightly.

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https://www.bengrahamrealtor.com/