Building: To Sell First Or Sell Later?

We have lots of clients who are currently building new homes-what an exciting prospect! Building new is fun and filled with customization opportunities that really make the home “all yours.” Many of our clients wonder, however; “What do we do about our current house?” Do we sell it right away or should we wait until our build is almost completed? As always… It depends… Here are a few questions to consider:
Q: Can you qualify for the new mortgage while owning both houses? We can have our lender help you to discover whether you can be non-contingent with your builder so they can start the process and build the home while you stay in your current place until we time out a listing date closer to your new construction close date.
Q: What is your appetite for risk? As we have seen, this market has afforded a bit more risk taking within the realm of buying before you sell. We are happy to explore the unique elements of your current situation so that we can make predictions on how fast your home will sell in any given market, market shifts coming up, and your equity position which will come into play where timing your sale is concerned. Owning two houses is never preferred but many of our clients weigh that risk against a double move and prefer to take that risk (this is where individual circumstances come into play).
Q: Are you a “one thing at a time” sort of person? Many of our clients prefer to complete one project before starting another one; it just makes them feel more comfortable. Building a home is no small task and with all the decision making involved, and selling a home comes with its own kind of stress. As much as our team seeks to handle all the details, many of our clients prefer not to take on everything at once. They prefer to sell their home, move to a short-term rental and begin the building process after that is accomplished. A few extra steps but overall, less “what if’s.”
There are more questions we explore with you when coming up with a plan to make this type of move, but this should get you started thinking. CALL US, so we can set up a preliminary consultation and explore all your thoughts and options before you start on your plan. We can help to make your move a smooth and fun process by planning ahead! Happy to help.

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