Mary thought that someday a condo would be nice.

Down the road. Once life slowed down. When the timing felt right.

If you’ve ever said something similar about your own next move, this story is for you. Because “someday” has a way of showing up before you’re ready. And when it does, the right plan is what turns it into one smooth move instead of two stressful ones.

Here’s how Mary was able to buy a home before selling hers, and what it could mean for you.

The listing she couldn’t stop thinking about

Mary found a stand-alone condo online. It felt more like a house than a condo, and it looked like the perfect fit.

But she wondered if it would even work for her situation. So she let it go.

Except she couldn’t. She kept thinking about it.

So she drove by, just to see how it felt. She liked the neighborhood, so she pulled up the listing again. And she knew.

That’s when Mary reached out to me to get inside and see if that feeling was right.

Why “someday” became “now”

Once Mary walked through, the reasons to wait started to fade.

• Fewer stairs
• Less yard work
• An extra bathroom for her and her boys
• The chance for them to live there now and make it home before they head off to college

Waiting would have meant missing that last one. For Mary, the timing wasn’t about the market. It was about her life.

The question every homeowner asks

Then the scary question showed up. The one I hear from almost every homeowner thinking about their next move here in Jenison.

Do I sell first and risk having nowhere to go? Or do I buy first and risk carrying two homes?

It’s the question that keeps a lot of people right where they are. Not because they don’t want to move, but because they can’t see how the pieces fit together.

How Mary bought a home before selling

So we built a plan before anything else happened.

Mary, her lender and I sat down and mapped out how she could buy first, without selling first. Once she knew the numbers worked, she could move with confidence.

She made a non-contingent offer, which meant her purchase didn’t depend on selling her current home. That made her offer stronger. She was under contract within a few days of her tour.

Then we listed her home

With her next home secured, we put her current home on the market. We had an offer on day one.

Inspections brought some back and forth, and we worked through it to keep the deal together.

Her condo closed first. Her home closed a few weeks later.

One move. No storage unit. No temporary rental.

When buying first works (and when it doesn’t)

Buying first was the right call for Mary. It isn’t automatically the right call for everyone. Here’s the honest version.

Buying first tends to work well when:

• Your lender confirms you can qualify for the new home before your current one sells
• You have a plan for the gap, whether that’s savings, equity, or a short bridge
• Your current home is likely to sell well once it hits the market

Selling first may make more sense when:

• You need the sale to qualify for your next loan
• Carrying two payments, even briefly, would keep you up at night
• You want total certainty on your numbers before you commit

Neither path is wrong. The wrong move is guessing. That’s why the lender conversation comes first.

What this means for you

Whether you’ve outgrown your home or you’re ready for less of it, here’s what Mary’s story shows:

1. The plan comes before the listing. Knowing your options with your lender first changes how you shop and how strong your offer is.
2. The order of the moves matters. Buying first and selling second is what let Mary move once.
3. You don’t have to choose between the right home and a smooth move. With the right strategy, you get both.

Some homes find you before you’re ready. Being ready is just a plan.

Bottom Line

• Yes, you can buy a home before selling your current one. It starts with a conversation with your lender.
• A non-contingent offer is stronger because it doesn’t depend on your sale, but the numbers need to work first.
• Buying first and selling second is how you avoid moving twice, renting in between, or paying for storage.
• If you’re not sure which order is right for you, start with a plan, not a listing.

Let’s map out your move

If there’s a home you keep coming back to, let’s map out what buying first could look like for you. Book a free Move-Up Plan Call. No pressure, just clarity.

Want to go deeper? Read this next: Should You Sell First or Buy First in Jenison?

I’m Liz Opatic, a Realtor® with REMAX SunQuest Realty here in Jenison, Michigan. I share more about moving smart in Jenison on Instagram at @LizORealestate.