Selling
Planning Your Next Move
Selling is only one part of the move. The real work is understanding how your sale, equity, timing, financing, and next purchase fit together.
Start with the whole picture
Before we talk list price, we look at where you want to land, the equity you'll have to work with, what the next payment realistically looks like, how your financing lines up, and how much flexibility you actually have on timing. The sale is one piece — the move is the goal, and sometimes the right answer is to wait, adjust, or restructure the plan before listing at all.
Three common paths
Most sellers fit one of these. None is universally right — the fit depends on your equity, financing, and tolerance for risk.
List First, Then Buy
UpsideStrongest sale — accurate pricing, clean staging, no contingencies. You shop with cash in hand and write non-contingent offers.
Trade-offYou need a place to land between closings. Rent-back, short-term rental, or staying with family bridges the gap.
Financing & timingTalk to your lender about how the sale proceeds change your buying power and timing.
Buy First, Then Sell
UpsideYou move once, on your terms, and don't risk losing the next home to timing.
Trade-offYou may carry two payments for a stretch and need a way to access equity before the sale closes.
Financing & timingBridge loans, HELOCs, recasts, and specialty buy-before-you-sell programs should be reviewed with a lender or financial advisor.
Coordinate Both Together
UpsideConcurrent closings or back-to-back contracts can avoid double payments and temporary housing entirely.
Trade-offIt takes tighter coordination and a backup plan if one side slips. Sale-contingent offers also vary in how well they compete.
Financing & timingWork with your lender early so financing, appraisal, and closing dates can line up.
What changes the plan
A handful of variables determine which path actually fits — and how aggressive or conservative the plan should be:
- Estimated net proceeds
- Current mortgage payoff
- Next down payment
- Reserves after closing
- Rent-back options
- Short-term housing
- Contingent offers
- Market competitiveness
- How long the current home may take to sell
Move-up, downsizing, and relocation
Move-up sellers
Equity, payoff, expected net proceeds, the new payment, and reserves — we line them up before you fall in love with a house. The goal is to make sure the upgrade still makes sense once the math is on paper.
Downsizing
Layout, stairs, storage, garage space, outdoor space, HOA dues, and Colorado property tax differences all matter as much as square footage. The question isn't just smaller — it's whether the next home actually fits the next stage of life.
Relocation
Timing across two markets, planning remotely, temporary housing, and balancing the Denver sale with where you're headed next. We sequence the two so neither one forces a rushed decision in the other.
Questions we'll work through together
- →What do you need from the sale before you can buy?
- →How much flexibility do you have on timing?
- →Would you rather reduce risk or maximize convenience?
- →Can your next purchase be non-contingent?
- →Would a rent-back, short-term rental, or bridge option make sense?
- →What happens if your current home sells faster — or slower — than expected?
How Matthew helps
I'll help you compare sequencing options, estimate likely net proceeds, talk through the real risks of each path, and coordinate with your lender when financing decisions need to line up with the sale. The goal isn't to push a transaction — it's to help you avoid a rushed or expensive one. For specific lending, tax, or financial questions, I'll point you to the right professional.
Begin a conversation
Let's Talk About Your Next Move
Whether you're buying, selling, relocating, or just starting to explore your options, Matthew can help you understand the market and build a plan.