Dear Phyllis,
Now that the higher end of the real estate market has cooled, we think it’s a great time to move to a larger home. We don’t want to sell our home and have to move to an apartment. How do we go about selling our home and moving directly to the next one?
Cramped
Dear Cramped,
Each real estate market is different. If you had asked me this questions several years ago, I would have advised you to sell your home and have your buyer agree that you could rent it back for several months. But as prices increased, this was no longer a good strategy for upsizing in today’s real estate market.
I suggest that you contact an experienced local real estate agent as soon as possible. Ideally you should have ample time to get your home prepared to sell quickly (de-clutter, make any necessary repairs). Have the professional photos taken. If you will be competing against buyers without a contingency to sell their home, you must demonstrate to the seller and their Realtor that you are serious and ready to go. You and your agent will need to prove to them the marketability of your home. Have your home ready to market and available for listing in the MLS immediately. It is the optimum time for you to be upsizing in today’s real estate market.
Some homes are still sold to cash buyers. You will not be in a strong negotiating position. And this is why an experienced local real estate agent is critical – one with established relationships within the Foothill’s real estate community.
