Friday, March 7, 2025 / by Jiselle Bersabe
Buying a Home Without a Sale Contingency: 8 Strategies to Secure Your Next Property
If you're aiming to sell your home without including a contingency for selling, there are a number of strategies you can use to secure your new property without the added complication. Here are some possible routes you could take:
1. Sell Your Home Before You Buy
- Option: Sell your current home before making an offer on a new one to have cash in hand.
- Pros: Strengthens your offer, making it more appealing in a competitive market.
- Cons: Requires careful coordination of both your sale and purchase timing.
2. Bridge Loan
- Option: Use a short-term bridge loan to leverage equity in your current home for the new purchase.
- Pros: Enables quick action without waiting for your home to sell.
- Cons: Requires qualifying for both a mortgage and the bridge loan; higher interest rates.
3. Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
- Option: Use a HELOC to tap into home equity for your new home’s down payment.
- Pros: Provides flexible and easy access to funds.
- Cons: Increases monthly expenses and requires repayment.
4. Rent Out Your Current Home
- Option: Keep your existing home as a rental property.
- Pros: Generates rental income and retains your property as an investment.
- Cons: Managing a rental property requires time and effort.
5. Non-Contingent Offer with Larger Down Payment
- Option: Make an offer with a larger down payment to eliminate the need for a sale contingency.
- Pros: Makes your offer more competitive.
- Cons: Requires substantial savings.
6. Seller Leaseback
- Option: Let the seller temporarily rent back the home after purchase.
- Pros: Allows you time to sell your old home.
- Cons: Requires negotiation and seller cooperation.
7. Extended Closing Timeline
- Option: Negotiate a longer closing period to allow more time for selling your home.
- Pros: Gives extra time to finalize your sale.
- Cons: Some sellers may be unwilling to wait.
8. Cash Offer (If You Have the Funds)
- Option: Use cash to make an offer without contingencies.
- Pros: Highly attractive to sellers due to speed and simplicity.
- Cons: Requires significant liquid assets.
Final Thoughts
Avoiding a home sale contingency can make your offer stronger and more attractive, particularly in competitive markets. The best option will depend on your financial situation and timing. If you have access to the right resources, you'll have more flexibility to move forward with buying a new home without the complication of a sale contingency.