Buy your next home
before you sell this one.
Most move-up sellers I sit with are stuck on one question: which comes first? You don't want to sell and have nowhere to go. You don't want to buy and own two homes. There is a way to line both up. Don't guess on your biggest move.
Can you buy before you sell in Chandler or Tempe?
Yes. There are five common ways to do it. Which one fits depends on two things: how fast your home will sell, and how much of your next down payment is sitting in it.
Pick the wrong one and you end up moving twice, paying for two homes, or losing the house you wanted. Pick the right one and you move once.
Five ways to time the move
Sale-contingent offer
Your offer on the new home depends on your current home selling. If yours doesn't sell, you can walk away and keep your earnest money. Works best when your home is priced right and the seller you're buying from isn't in a hurry.
Contingency addendum with a close-by date
The written version of the plan. It sets a date your current home has to close by. Miss it, and you get a few days to drop the contingency or step away. The seller gets a clear finish line, which makes your offer easier to say yes to.
Sell first, then rent back
You sell and close first, then rent your old home back from the buyer for a short window. You shop with cash in hand, so your next offer reads like one with no strings attached.
Same-day close
Both deals close on the same day. Your sale funds your purchase that afternoon. It takes tight timing between two escrow companies (and your lender, if you have one). It's how Nathan and Niko did it below.
Bridge loan or HELOC
Some buyers borrow against their current home to buy first. That is a lender conversation, not mine. I'll introduce you to a lender who can walk you through it, and I'll show you what the sale side looks like so the dates match.
Start with what your home is worth
Every option above starts with one number: what your home will likely sell for, and how fast. Get that right and the rest of the plan gets simple. Get the free seller guide.
Move-up sellers in South Tempe and South Chandler
Maybe you've outgrown a home in Ahwatukee, Gilbert, or north Chandler and you're looking at $1M+ homes in Ocotillo, Fulton Ranch, or South Tempe. Or you already live here and want more land, a single level, or a quieter street a mile away.
Either way, the question is the same: how do you get there without moving twice? See the move-up buyer guide for where people land.
Two closings, one afternoon
Nathan and Niko sold their Chandler home at 2141 E Remington Pl and bought a home in Laveen with cash. We accepted an offer on the Chandler home on February 18, 2026 and set closing for March 30.
Their Laveen purchase carried a contingency addendum: the Chandler sale had to close by March 30, or they had three days to waive. Their earnest money stayed protected the whole time. Both deals closed on March 30, 2026.
That one was a downsize under $1M. The mechanic is the same at $1.5M in Ocotillo. The numbers just get bigger.
What if your house doesn't sell?
It happens. Ryan and Alyssa Sadowski bought their next home in Mesa before their South Scottsdale townhouse sold. They had a toddler, a big dog, and a garage office that cooked every summer. They needed a yard more than they needed perfect timing.
Then the townhouse sat for about three months. That meant two mortgage payments, every month.
Here's what got it sold. We lowered the price a couple of times until it found its number. When the buyer's inspection found a collapsed sewer line, they didn't hire a contractor. The $15,950 repair came out of their proceeds at closing. It closed August 28, 2026.
What I'd tell you before you buy first:
- Start at a price that sells, not one that tests the market. A slow start is how you end up with two payments.
- Ask your lender what two payments look like for three to six months. If that number makes you sweat, use a contingent offer or sell first and rent back.
- Expect a repair conversation. A credit or a payment at closing beats starting a project while you're paying for two houses.
How we line it up
Talk it through
15 minutes. Where you are, where you want to land, and what your home will likely sell for today.
See it in person
I walk your home and the homes you're eyeing. We pick the option that fits and set the dates before anything goes on the market.
Make your move
We list, write, and time both contracts so you move once. You stop guessing and start deciding.
Questions people ask about selling before buying
Can I buy a home before I sell mine in Chandler or Tempe?
Yes. Most people do it one of five ways: a sale-contingent offer, a contingency addendum with a close-by date, a rent-back after selling, a same-day close, or a lender product like a bridge loan or HELOC. The right one depends on how fast your home will sell and how much of your next down payment is tied up in it.
What is a home sale contingency?
It is a line in your purchase contract that says you only have to buy the new home if your current home sells. The addendum sets a date your home must close by. If it does not, you usually get a few days to drop the contingency or step away.
Will a seller accept a contingent offer?
Sometimes. It is easier when your home is priced right, ready to show, or already under contract, and when the date in the addendum is clear. In a pocket where the seller has other offers, a contingent offer is harder to win, and a rent-back or same-day close may work better.
What happens to my earnest money if my home does not sell?
With a sale contingency in the contract, you can cancel inside the terms and keep your earnest money. Without one, it can be at risk. In our Chandler to Laveen sale, the addendum gave the buyers three days to waive or walk, and their earnest money stayed protected.
What is a rent-back?
You sell and close first, then rent your old home back from the new owner for a short, agreed window. You move once, and your next offer can be written without a sale contingency.
Should I use a bridge loan or a HELOC?
That is a question for a lender, not a REALTOR. I am happy to introduce you to a lender who can walk through it. I will show you what the timing looks like on the sale side so the two plans match.
How long does selling before buying take?
It depends on the market and your home. In the Chandler to Laveen sale, we accepted an offer on February 18, 2026 and both deals closed on March 30, 2026, about six weeks.
Not sure which comes first? Let's talk it through.
Text me or book a 15 minute call. You'll get an honest answer, even if it's "wait."
Ben Graham, REALTOR since 2011, eXp Realty. South Tempe and South Chandler.