Selling a home while preparing to buy your next one can feel overwhelming. Timing, finances, emotions, and logistics all collide. If you’re trying to figure out how to sell your home before buying your next one in the West Michigan real estate market, you’re not alone. Many homeowners in Grand Rapids, Rockford, Ada, and surrounding communities face the same questions.
And I’ve lived through it myself.
We spent nine years in our Rockford home, but the journey to get there was long. When we bought in 2006, we spent close to a year touring homes every weekend, searching for something that fit our family’s needs. School district requirements limited our options but not our determination.
We saw everything the West Michigan housing market had to offer:
Nothing says “do not buy this home” quite like that image.
We also had a home to sell, which brought its own challenges.
Before committing to carrying two mortgages, we tried renting out the home we moved out of. At first, it seemed like the perfect plan. Until it wasn’t.
The renters stopped paying.
Suddenly, we were chasing payments and covering the mortgage ourselves. That financial strain, mixed with uncertainty, created a heavy stress I’ll never forget.
We eventually listed the home, but it sat on the market for 278 days. Between the rental issues and the long selling period, the entire process stretched to nearly a year and a half before the home finally sold.
It was one of the hardest real estate chapters we’ve ever lived through.
Our next Rockford home became a true labor of love. Over nearly a decade, we renovated bathrooms, installed new flooring, refreshed paint, rebuilt the deck, added a patio, replaced appliances, tackled countless landscaping projects, and added the backyard pool of my childhood dreams. It became our personal oasis.
But when our youngest graduated, everything changed.
The home felt too big. The maintenance too much. The school district no longer necessary.
What started as a simple conversation about “maybe moving” quickly became reality. Within five months of graduation, we were signing papers to sell the home we’d transformed.
The months leading up to listing were filled with:
Even though I wasn’t a Realtor yet, we knew what it took to get top dollar in the West Michigan selling market:
Buyers notice care. And care pays off.
We hoped to buy immediately, but I didn’t want another project. So we decided to rent for a year.
That breathing room gave us time to explore the Greater Grand Rapids real estate market with open eyes and clear expectations.
Eventually, we found the perfect piece of land and built what we now call our forever home—main floor living, a great location, and space for our family when they visit.
It was worth every step it took to get there.
Through all of this, one truth stood out: the real estate market is always changing.
Success comes from being prepared and surrounding yourself with the right professionals.
Before deciding whether to sell before you buy, consider:
Can you carry two mortgages at once?
If you sell first, where will you go?
What if the right home doesn’t come along quickly?
What is the bigger goal?
These questions are best answered with the guidance of a trusted mortgage lender and local real estate agent who understand West Michigan market conditions.
Whether you sell first or never want to carry two mortgages, your current home needs to shine. Start early with:
Preparation reduces stress and increases your home’s value.
If you’re considering a move in West Michigan, you don’t have to navigate the process alone. Selling before buying can feel complicated, but with the right plan and the right partners, it becomes not just manageable, but empowering.
I’ve walked this journey myself. I know the emotions and logistics behind it. And I’m here to guide you through your next chapter with confidence.
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