Buy first or sell first
Move up to your next home.
Sell the home you own, buy the one you want, and move once. One group runs both sides of the move.
A live person answers. Not a robot, not a phone tree.
Thinking of selling?
What is your Colorado luxury home worth?
Get a free Smart Pricing Report: recent $1M+ sales near you, the homes you would compete with and three list prices to choose from, prepared by a person on our team.
A live person answers.
Two numbers first
How do I move up to a bigger home?
Get a Smart Pricing Report on your current home and a jumbo pre-approval the same week. Those two numbers set your price range and tell you whether to buy first, sell first or close both on the same day.
Know your equity.
A Smart Pricing Report shows what your home sells for and what you net.
Know your budget.
A jumbo pre-approval with your equity counted in.
Pick the order.
Buy first, sell first, or close both on the same day.
Move once.
A rent-back or a bridge loan removes the second move.
Should I buy first or sell first?
- Buy first. You shop without pressure. You need a bridge loan, a HELOC or income that covers two payments.
- Sell first. You know your cash. Negotiate a rent-back so you stay until your new home closes.
- Same-day closing. Sell in the morning, buy in the afternoon. Both contracts need matching deadlines.
- Contingent offer. Your purchase depends on your sale. It is stronger once your home is under contract.
How do I pay for the move-up?
- Bridge loan. A short-term loan against your current home's equity, paid off when it sells.
- HELOC. Open it before you list. Lenders do not open a HELOC on a home that is for sale.
- Jumbo loan. Required when you borrow more than $862,500 in the Denver metro counties (2026).
- Cash from the sale. Your net proceeds become the down payment on a same-day closing.
How do I get the most for my current home?
- Price from the comps. The Smart Pricing Report sets the price from the sold homes around you.
- Prepare it. Paint, repairs and staging before the photos, never after.
- Launch it right. Photos, a property website and paid social on day one.
- Negotiate the timeline. The closing date and the rent-back matter as much as the price.
Pick your price band
Where are the homes over $1 million, by price?
Homes for sale now and sold in the last 12 months along the Front Range, by price range. The lower the months of supply, the more competition you will see. Updated November 6, 2026.
The $1M to $1.5M range is the tightest, at 3.3 months of supply. The $5M and up range has the most room, at 17.1 months.
| Price range | For sale now | Sold, 12 months | Months of supply |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1M to $1.5M | 1,078 | 3,903 | 3.3 |
| $1.5M to $2M | 402 | 1,371 | 3.5 |
| $2M to $3M | 389 | 859 | 5.4 |
| $3M to $5M | 207 | 336 | 7.4 |
| $5M and up | 110 | 77 | 17.1 |
Based on information from REcolorado for the period November 6, 2025 through November 5, 2026. Single-family homes $1,000,000 and up; condos and townhomes $800,000 and up. Homes for sale as of November 6, 2026. Months of supply = homes for sale now divided by the average monthly sales of the last 12 months.
Run the math
How much equity do I need to move up?
An example only, with round numbers, moving from a $900,000 home to a $1,500,000 home in the Denver metro. Your lender and our Smart Pricing Report give you real numbers.
| Line | Example |
|---|---|
| Current home sale price | $900,000 |
| Minus mortgage payoff | - $350,000 |
| Minus selling costs (example) | - $50,000 |
| Equity you take to the next home | $500,000 |
| Next home price | $1,500,000 |
| Down payment (20%, example) | $300,000 |
| Loan amount | $1,200,000: a jumbo loan in the Denver metro (over $862,500 in 2026) |
| Equity left for closing costs, moving and reserves | $200,000 |
Lender options: Mike Oswald at Rate, (720) 677-5816. You may use any lender.
This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Ask your attorney, CPA or lender about your situation.
Close both on one day
How does a same-day sell-and-buy closing work?
- Match the dates. The closing date on your sale and on your purchase line up, with the sale closing first.
- One title company, if possible. When the same title company handles both, the money moves from one closing to the next the same day.
- A backup plan. A short rent-back on the sale or a delayed possession on the purchase covers a one-day slip.
- Watch the contingency deadlines. Colorado contracts set every deadline by date. A missed deadline on one side affects the other.
Every Colorado home for sale, every price on kennarealestate.com, our main site.
A live person answers.
Quick answers
Questions move-up buyers ask.
Can I buy my next home before I sell this one?
Yes, three ways: a bridge loan against your current home's equity, a HELOC opened before you list, or a jumbo loan that qualifies you with both payments. Mike Oswald at Rate runs all three: (720) 677-5816. You may use any lender.
Will a seller take an offer that depends on my sale?
Some sellers accept a home-sale contingency with a deadline. Above $1 million, a contingent offer competes better once your home is listed or under contract.
Can I stay in my home after it sells?
Yes, with a post-closing occupancy agreement (a rent-back). The buyer agrees in the contract to let you stay a set number of days after closing.
What if my home does not sell before I need to close on the next one?
A home-sale contingency with a deadline protects you if the sale falls through. A bridge loan or a HELOC opened before you list lets you close without the sale. Talk to your lender before you write the offer.
How much do I need for a down payment on a jumbo loan?
It depends on the lender, the loan size and your credit. Jumbo loans often ask for a larger down payment and cash reserves than conforming loans. Get pre-approved before you shop.
Where to go next
Keep exploring.
Further reading
From the Kenna network.
Your next home
Find your next home: homes over $1 million across the Front Range
Single-family homes from $1,000,000 in 32 cities from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs, highest price first. Active and Coming Soon listings from REcolorado.
Want to see one of these, or a home that is not on the market yet? Call or text 303-955-4220. A live person answers.
Free playbook
The Colorado Luxury Downsizing Playbook.
Sell the estate, buy the right home, move once. The 12-week plan, the tax and cash questions, the ranch, patio, 55+ and golf communities, and the checklist. 8 pages, free.
A live person answers. Not a robot, not a phone tree.
Private consultation
Ask us about moving up.
303-955-4220A live person answers. Not a robot, not a phone tree.
- Private showings on your schedule, including evenings and weekends.
- Off-market homes from The Kenna Group's agent network.
- One point of contact from the first showing to the closing table.
Kenna Luxury Real Estate is a division of The Kenna Group at Keller Williams DTC (KWDTC).