Buy Before You Sell in California
Found the home you want, but your money is still tied up in the home you own?
You do not have to wait for your current home to sell, and you do not have to make an offer that depends on it selling. A buy-before-you-sell bridge loan lets you use equity you have already built to buy your next California home first, then sell your current home after you have moved.
That means one move instead of two, no rushed sale to meet someone else’s deadline, and an offer that can compete, because it is not contingent on your home selling first.
Takes about a minute. No obligation.
Why homeowners get stuck
In a competitive California market, sellers prefer offers that are clean and certain. If your offer says “we can buy once our home sells,” it often loses to an offer that does not, even at the same price. Meanwhile, selling first creates its own problem: you are under pressure to find the next home quickly, or you move twice and live out of boxes in between.
A buy-before-you-sell loan is built to break that circle. You buy first, on your timeline, and sell second, on yours as well.
How buy before you sell works
- Tell us about both homes. Where you live now, roughly what it is worth and what you still owe, and the home you want to buy.
- We check your equity and your options. Seth reviews your scenario with lenders that offer buy-before-you-sell loans and tells you plainly whether it fits, and what it would involve.
- Buy your next home. Use the bridge financing to make a non-contingent, cash-like offer and close on the new home.
- Sell your current home after you move. When it sells, the proceeds repay the bridge loan.
Who this is for
- You own a California home with equity built up, and you have found, or are actively looking for, your next home.
- Your offers keep losing because they depend on your home selling first.
- You want to move once, then prepare and sell your old home properly instead of rushing it onto the market.
- You are upsizing, downsizing, relocating within California, or moving closer to family or work.
Not sure if you have enough equity, or whether the timing works? That is exactly what the check below is for. You get a straight answer before you commit to anything.
What to expect, and what we will not promise
Every buy-before-you-sell scenario is different. What you qualify for depends on the equity in your current home, the home you are buying, your overall finances and the lender’s guidelines at the time. Costs, terms and timelines vary by lender and by scenario, and they are confirmed in writing before you proceed, not estimated on a web page.
So this page makes no promise about a rate, an approval or a closing date. What it does promise is a fast, honest review: share the basics, and Seth will tell you whether this path is realistic for you and what the next steps look like.
Check if you qualify
Answer a few questions about the home you own and the home you want. Seth reviews every submission personally and typically responds within one business day.
Phone: 415-860-7384 | Email: seth@sethswenson.com
Your information is kept confidential. By submitting, you agree to be contacted by phone or email about your request. No obligation.
Frequently asked questions
What is a buy-before-you-sell bridge loan?
It is short-term financing that lets you use equity in your current home to buy your next home before your current home sells. Once your current home sells, the proceeds repay the bridge loan. It is designed for the gap between buying and selling, not as a long-term mortgage.
How is this different from making a contingent offer?
A contingent offer depends on your home selling, which makes it weaker in a seller’s eyes. With buy-before-you-sell financing in place, your offer on the next home does not have to depend on that sale, so it can compete more like a cash offer.
How much equity do I need?
There is no single number that fits everyone. It depends on what your current home is worth, what you still owe, the price of the home you are buying and the lender’s guidelines. The check on this page is the fastest way to find out where you stand. Bring your best estimates, not exact figures.
How long do I have to sell my current home?
Bridge terms vary by lender and scenario. Your specific term is confirmed in writing before you proceed, so you know your window before you buy.
What happens if my current home does not sell in time?
Talk to Seth before that becomes urgent, ideally well before your term ends. Depending on your lender and your situation, options may include a price adjustment on the listing, or discussing an extension or a refinance. The right move depends on your loan and your market, which is why planning the sale timeline at the start matters.
Will I end up owning two homes at once?
For a period, yes. That is the point of the program. You close on the new home, move once, then sell the old home without deadline pressure. During that overlap you are responsible for both properties, and Seth will walk through what that carrying period looks like for your numbers before you decide.
What does it cost?
Costs and rates vary by lender, loan amount and scenario, and they change over time, so they are not quoted on this page. You receive the full cost picture in writing for your specific scenario before you commit, and you can compare it against the cost of selling first, moving twice or losing the home you want.
Do I have to sell my home through a particular agent, or buy in a particular area?
No. This page is for California homeowners, and you keep your own agent and your own plans. Seth’s role is the financing: reviewing your scenario and connecting you with a lender that offers buy-before-you-sell loans.
How do I get started?
Use the Check If You Qualify form on this page, call 415-860-7384, or email seth@sethswenson.com. Seth reviews every request personally and typically responds within one business day.
Buy before you sell in your area
San Francisco · Oakland · San Jose · Palo Alto · Sunnyvale · Santa Clara · Fremont · Walnut Creek · Marin County · Sacramento
Prefer to start with any kind of deal? Send your scenario through the form on our home page.
Seth Swenson Mortgage Capital | NMLS #2546389 | CA DRE #01850692. Buy-before-you-sell and bridge loan programs are offered through lending partners and are subject to lender approval, program guidelines and availability in California. This page is for information only and is not a loan offer, commitment to lend, or guarantee of rates, terms, approval or timing. All loans are subject to underwriting and verification. Equal Housing Opportunity.