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Selling and buying at the same time
Moving within South Florida means two deals at once. Here are the usual ways to line up the dates so you are not paying for two homes or moving twice.
By Danielle Salomon and Simone Pakoys · Updated 11/12/2026 · General information, not legal or tax advice.
Most sellers are also buyers. The hard part is timing: you need the money from one home to buy the next, and you need somewhere to live in between. Here are the common ways people handle it.
Option 1: Sell first
You know exactly what you have to spend and your offer is stronger. The risk is needing a short-term place to live. A later closing date or a short stay after closing, if the buyer agrees, can bridge the gap.
Option 2: Buy first
You move once, on your schedule. The risk is carrying two homes for a while. Some buyers use savings or a bridge loan; ask a licensed lender what fits you.
Option 3: Line up both closings
With careful planning, the sale and the purchase close on the same day or a few days apart. This takes clear dates in both contracts and steady follow-up with both title companies.
Things that help either way
- Get pre-approved early so you know your real budget.
- Price your current home on real sales so it does not sit.
- If you have a Florida homestead, plan for Save Our Homes portability.