Move-up buyers
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.
Concept photography: AI-generated illustrative imagery, not a property listing.
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.
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.
Where to go next
Keep exploring.
Further reading
From the Kenna network.
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 Real Estate 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 Real Estate Group at Keller Williams DTC (KWDTC).