Can you buy and sell a home at the same time in the Capital Region? Yes — but the most successful strategy is to get your current home under contract first, then move to a temporary place while you house hunt so you can make non-contingent offers.
If you own a home and need to buy a new one, you're not alone. This is one of the most common situations Capital Region buyers face — and one of the most stressful if you don't have a plan going in.
Here's what you need to know, and exactly what Shannon McCarthy recommends her clients do to set themselves up for success.
The Core Problem: Contingent Offers Are Hard to Win
When you need to sell your current home before you can close on a new one, any offer you make is considered contingent — meaning your purchase depends on your existing home selling first.
In a competitive market, sellers don't love that. They'd rather accept a clean, non-contingent offer from a buyer who doesn't have a home to sell first. That puts contingent buyers at a significant disadvantage, especially in sought-after areas like Saratoga Springs, Clifton Park, and Malta where inventory moves quickly.
What Shannon Recommends
After working with over 1,500 Capital Region families, Shannon has a clear strategy for homeowners in this position:
Step 1: Get Your Current Home Under Contract First
Before you start seriously shopping for your next home, focus on getting your existing home sold — or at least under contract. That means getting it listed, staged, and priced right so it generates strong offers fast.
This is where working with the right team matters. The Shannon McCarthy Team's staged homes sell at a 104% list-to-sale ratio, which means you're not leaving money on the table while you make your move.
Step 2: Move to a Short-Term Place
Yes, this means a temporary landing spot — an extended stay hotel, a short-term rental, or staying with family. It's not glamorous, but it's strategic.
Once your home is under contract, you have a firm timeline and real purchasing power. Most short-term situations last just a few weeks to a couple of months. That's a small inconvenience compared to the advantage it gives you in the buying process.
Step 3: House Hunt Without the Contingency
This is where everything clicks. With your home under contract, you can make offers on your next home that are not contingent on your primary home closing. That's a completely different conversation with a seller.
Clean offers win more often. They win faster. And in a Capital Region market where well-priced homes can receive multiple offers, showing up without contingencies can be the difference between getting the house and losing it.
Is the Temporary Move Worth It?
For most buyers, yes — and here's why:
You avoid the chain-reaction stress of trying to coordinate two closings simultaneously
You can shop with confidence, knowing your financing is not tied to a pending sale
You negotiate from a position of strength, not urgency
You're more likely to land the home you actually want, not just the one that accepted your contingent offer
What If You Can't Move Out in Between?
There are situations where a temporary move isn't feasible — young children, limited options, logistical constraints. In those cases, we talk through alternatives: rent-back agreements, bridge loans, and other structures that can help. Every situation is different, which is exactly why having experienced guidance matters.
The Shannon McCarthy Team has navigated every version of this scenario across the Capital Region since 2003. We'll help you map out the right sequence for your specific situation.
FAQ
Is it hard to get a contingent offer accepted in Saratoga Springs right now? In most Capital Region markets — including Saratoga Springs, Clifton Park, and Malta — contingent offers are difficult to get accepted when there's competition. Sellers prefer clean offers, and a well-priced home often draws multiple buyers. Removing the contingency by selling first puts you in a much stronger position.
How long does the temporary move-out period usually last? It varies, but most clients are in a short-term situation for four to eight weeks. If you're actively house hunting with a clear budget and no contingency, you can move quickly when the right home comes up.
Can the Shannon McCarthy Team help me coordinate the buy and sell at the same time? Absolutely. We help clients navigate timing, pricing, negotiation, and logistics across both transactions. With 275 homes sold in 2025 alone, we've handled complex timelines across the Capital Region and know how to structure deals that work for your situation.
