Should You Buy First, Sell First, or Keep Your Current Home? (Move-Up Buyers’ Guide)

Thinking about moving up to a bigger home? You might be wondering:

• Should I buy first?
• Should I sell first?
• Could I even keep my current home as a rental?

Making the wrong move here could cost you big time — financially and emotionally. Let’s break down your real options so you can move forward with confidence.

Your 4 Real Options When Moving Up

1. Sell Your Current Home First

This is the “safer” path. You know exactly how much money you’ll have to spend.

Mortgage approvals for your next home are much easier.

But the downside? You might feel rushed to find your next place fast — and that pressure can lead to compromises you don't really want to make.

2. Buy Your Next Home First

This strategy makes sense if you find your dream home and don’t want to risk losing it.

But here’s the risk: If your current home doesn’t sell quickly, you could end up carrying two mortgages.

That extra financial burden can get stressful very fast.

3. Buy and Sell at the Same Time

If everything lines up perfectly, you sell your home and close on your new one at the same time. It’s clean, easy, and financially smooth.

But: Timing two major real estate transactions to match perfectly is tricky. You’ll need strong contracts and a good backup plan — just in case something gets delayed.

4. Keep Your Current Home as a Rental

If you qualify and have enough equity, another smart option is turning your current home into a rental property.

• Build long-term wealth by holding real estate.
• Collect monthly rental income.

But: Being a landlord comes with responsibility — tenants, maintenance, unexpected repairs. And you’ll want a property manager if you don’t want to handle it all yourself.

Important: Most agents won’t even bring up this rental option — because if you don’t sell, they don’t make a commission right away. But you deserve to know every real choice, even the ones that aren’t immediately profitable for your agent.

The Honest Truth: It Depends on You

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to whether you should buy, sell, or rent first.

It depends on your:

• Home equity
• Borrowing power
• Local market speed
• Timeline and personal comfort level
• Financial goals (Are you trying to build wealth or simply find a bigger place?)

This isn’t about what’s easy for an agent — it’s about what’s right for your family and future.

How I Help Move-Up Buyers (Without the Guesswork)

• Run all your real numbers — not just vague guesses.
• Lay out all your options — sell first, buy first, buy/sell together, or rent.
• Build a safe, smart strategy tailored around your life and goals.
• Offer risk-reduction programs — like my 'Your Home Sold, or Ken Buys It' guarantee.
• Connect you to trusted pros: mortgage brokers, lawyers, home inspectors, and even property managers if you go rental.

You’ll never have to guess, panic, or hope for the best.