It’s important to know when to start looking for your new home. A solid strategy is looking at homes to buy once your home is on the market. However, it would be best if you also considered browsing for homes even before you list your home for sale. This way, you can get a feel for what’s available before listing your house for sale. You’ll know upfront if selling is worthwhile.
If you’re looking at homes to buy once your home is on the market but, you’ll be aligning your sale and purchase. You’ll need to wait until you’ve sold your home before making an offer. Starting your search too early can be disappointing. Finding the perfect place only to watch someone else buy it can be heartbreaking. Still, you want to keep an available home on the market.
If you need to sell your current home before buying another one, you’ll work within the closing period, usually one to three months. This should be enough time to secure your next home, assuming your expectations align with the market. If the housing market is rising, it’s important not to wait too long. But to start house hunting as soon as you’ve sold your home. If prices increase quickly, you risk being out of the housing market.
Once you have a feel for what’s out there, you can check the new listings as they become available. This way, you’ll be fully prepared to make an offer when your sold sign goes up. Buying your dream home is exciting and nerve-wracking all at the same time, but being prepared helps take the guesswork out of your next move.
