How do I know it's the right time to move up?
It's the right time when the home you have no longer works for the life you're living and the price and monthly payment on the next one make sense. Trying to guess the market isn't a plan. Knowing what you can afford is.
I'd look at three things before anything else: what your current home would sell for, what you'd net after costs and paying off the loan, and what monthly payment you're comfortable with on the next place. If those line up, waiting for the "perfect" moment usually just means living with the problem longer.
If they don't line up yet, that's useful too. You'll know what has to change, whether that's saving more, making a few updates to your current home, or adjusting what you're shopping for.
Can I use the equity in my current home to buy the next one?
Yes, and for most move-up buyers that equity is the biggest piece of the plan. The simplest way is to sell your current home and put what you walk away with toward the next one.
There are also ways to use that equity before your home sells, like borrowing against it or using a loan meant to bridge the gap between the two purchases. Each option has its own costs and rules, and whether any of them fit depends on your income, your credit, and your overall finances. That's a conversation for a lender, and I'd have it before you start touring.
Selling a home can also bring up tax questions, depending on how long you've owned it, how you've used it, and what you do next. There are rules that can come into play, so talk to a CPA or tax advisor. I'm not a lender or a tax professional, and nothing on this page is financial or tax advice.
Should I sell my house first or buy first?
It depends on how much risk you can carry. Selling first means you know exactly how much you have to spend, but you may need a short-term place to live in between. Buying first means one move, but you may be paying for two homes for a while or writing an offer that depends on your sale, which can be harder to win with.
There's no right answer for everybody. I'll lay out both versions side by side, using what your home could likely sell for in today's market and what you're approved for, so you can see which order means fewer moves, less time paying for two homes, and a plan you feel confident in. I wrote a whole page on how buying before you sell works if that's the direction you're leaning.
What should I prioritize in my next home, more space or a better location?
Decide what you're moving for, then protect that one thing. If you're leaving because you ran out of room, space comes first. If you're leaving because of your commute or where you want to spend your time, location comes first.
Most move-up buyers want both, and the budget usually forces a tradeoff. You can add on to a house or rework a floor plan later. You can't move the lot. I'd lean toward the right location with a layout that works and rooms that give you some flexibility, over a bigger house somewhere that doesn't fit your day-to-day life.
Before we tour, I'll ask you to split your list into must-haves and nice-to-haves. It keeps you from choosing a house that has the extras you like but misses the reasons you're moving.
How do I get my current home ready to sell while I'm shopping?
Do the prep early, before the house you want shows up. Once you're in escrow on the next one, you won't have much time or patience for contractors.
Buyers notice the first 30 seconds: paint, lighting, flooring, curb appeal, and anything that looks like a repair project. That's where I'd put your money, not into a remodel you're about to leave. The Show-Ready-Seller® System starts with a free report showing what your home is worth now and what it could be worth with the right updates. You can request your home's value here.
When we do the prep, my S-R-S® Concierge coordinates the contractors, cleaners, staging, and media, so you're not managing vendors while you're also house hunting.
How do I compete for a single-family home in Burbank and the San Fernando Valley?
Be ready before the right house is listed. That means a solid pre-approval, a clear plan for your current home, and a maximum price you've already decided on. Sellers look at how likely a deal is to close, not only the price.
Your current home is part of your offer, so a seller will want to know how you're handling it. If your offer depends on selling it, having it prepped, priced, and ready to list makes that offer a lot easier to say yes to.
When the right one shows up, we move quickly. I'll show it to you myself, pull the comparable sales, and write an offer built on what homes like it are actually selling for, not on how badly you want it.
What does working with you look like when I'm buying and selling at the same time?
You get one plan and one person running both sides. I start with the range your home could likely sell for in today's market, what you'd walk away with after the loan and selling costs, and what a lender will approve you for. Then we set the order of operations so the two closings line up.
On the buy side, I show you homes personally (not an assistant), write the offer, and manage it through escrow. On the sell side, we run The Show-Ready-Seller® System. If you want to talk through your timing, book a call.