Selling before buying in Austin
In the current Austin market, selling first is usually the stronger position because it makes your offer clean and removes the risk of carrying two mortgages. The trade is that you may need an interim place to live. With Lakeway averaging 71 days on market and Austin 64, the gap between listing and closing is long enough that you can often run both processes in sequence within one season rather than doing them at once.
Why selling first is usually stronger
An offer contingent on the sale of another house is weaker than one that is not, and in a negotiation that difference shows up in price.
Selling first also tells you exactly what your budget is. Buyers who guess at their equity and guess high end up compromising later.
When buying first makes sense
If you are moving into a specific narrow market where the right house appears twice a year, waiting for your sale can cost you the house.
It also makes sense when carrying both is genuinely comfortable rather than technically possible.
The middle paths
There are ways to bridge the gap, each with a cost.
- Leaseback from your buyer, which is common here and often the cleanest solution
- Bridge financing, faster but more expensive
- A short term rental between closings, which is disruptive but keeps both transactions clean
Common questions
What is a leaseback?
You sell the house and rent it back from the new owner for an agreed period after closing, giving you time to close on your next home. Terms are negotiated as part of the contract.
Can I make a non-contingent offer without selling first?
Only if you can carry both or arrange bridge financing. Talk to a lender before you write, not after.
How long between selling and buying?
Plan on thirty to forty five days from contract to closing on each side, and use your area's days on market to estimate how long the listing takes to go under contract.