Contingent Home Purchase: How to Buy and Sell at the Same Time Without Losing Control
A contingent home purchase means you are buying and selling at the same time. Two transactions. One timeline. Shared risk.
Contingent deals do not fail because they are impossible. They fail because they are mismanaged.
This is not a shortcut, a hack, or a guaranteed solution. A contingent purchase is a coordination problem. When structured with discipline, it can work well. When handled casually, it can unravel quickly and expensively.
This page exists to explain how the contingent home sale and purchase process actually works, where it breaks down, and how it is managed responsibly.
What a Contingent Purchase Really Means
A contingent purchase allows you to buy your next home only if your current home sells. The success of one transaction is directly tied to the other.
That linkage creates pressure points that do not exist in a standard purchase or a sell-first scenario. Pricing, timing, contract terms, and communication all matter more, and mistakes compound faster.
The question is not whether contingent purchases are possible. They are.
The real question is whether they are appropriate for your situation, current market conditions, and tolerance for risk.
Why Contingent Transactions Break Down
Most contingent deals fail for predictable reasons, not bad luck.
Common failure points include:
Real estate rarely punishes caution. It routinely punishes optimism.
What a Contingent Purchase Requires to Work
Successful contingent purchases share several non-negotiable characteristics:
- Marketable pricing from day one, not aspirational pricing.
- Front-loaded preparation, including inspections, disclosures, and documentation before going live.
- Conservative timelines that account for negotiation, inspections, and buyer financing on the sale side.
- Clear, disciplined communication between all parties, with no assumptions left unspoken.
- Backup planning if market conditions or timelines change mid-transaction.
When any one of these is missing, risk increases quickly.
How I Structure Contingent Transactions
My role in a contingent purchase is to coordinate moving parts so nothing drifts and no assumption goes untested.
That includes:
- Preparing the sale side to perform before writing an offer on the purchase.
- Stress-testing timelines against current market conditions.
- Writing contingencies that protect you without making your offer unworkable.
- Coordinating with lenders, inspectors, and title professionals without steering or shortcuts.
- Identifying exit points early if conditions or assumptions stop holding.
- Working directly with the cooperating seller and their agent so expectations, timelines, and risk are fully transparent.
This work is not about forcing a deal to happen. It is about maintaining control while reality unfolds.
When a Contingent Purchase Makes Sense
A contingent purchase may be appropriate when:
- Your current home is highly marketable.
- Pricing expectations are realistic.
- Your timeline allows for coordination and negotiation.
- You are prepared for disciplined execution on both sides.
Even then, contingent offers are not guaranteed acceptance. Sellers decide based on their own risk tolerance and available alternatives.
⏩ What This Page Is Not
- This page is not a promise.
- It is not a lender pitch.
- It is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
It is a clear explanation of how contingent purchases actually work and what they require to succeed.
⏩The Next Step
If you are considering a contingent home purchase, the most important step is an honest evaluation of feasibility before writing an offer.
If you value clear guidance, conservative planning, and an advisor who will tell you when a contingent strategy does not make sense, we should talk.
Begin with a consultation to evaluate whether a contingent purchase is viable for your situation.
