Selling and Buying at the Same Time in Palm Beach County: How to Time Your Move Without Paying Twice
TL;DR: There is no single right order. Selling first protects your budget, buying first protects your next home, and tools like contingent offers, rent-backs, and bridge financing help close the gap. If you are leaving a Florida homestead, plan your dates around Save Our Homes portability so you keep your tax savings.
Key takeaways
- Sell first if you need the money from your sale to buy. Buy first if the right next home is hard to find.
- A rent-back or a contingent offer can let you move once instead of twice.
- Bridge loans and HELOCs can fund a purchase before you sell. Talk to a lender before you count on one.
- Florida lets you move your Save Our Homes benefit, up to $500,000, to a new Florida homestead if you apply on time.
- Budget for two sets of closing costs and a possible overlap month.
Whether you need more room or less, the hard part is the same: two deals that have to line up. Here is how I help clients plan it.
Sell first or buy first?
Sell first when your equity is your down payment, or you cannot carry two payments. You know your exact budget. The risk is needing a place to land.
Buy first when you have found the home you want, or the type of home you need rarely comes up. The risk is carrying two homes for a while.
[BRIAN: first-hand detail. An anonymized example of a client who sold first or bought first, and why it was the right call for them.]
Contingent offers
A contingent offer makes your purchase depend on selling your current home. It protects you, but some sellers see it as weaker, especially when they have other offers. It works best when your home is already listed or under contract. [STAT: how common sale-contingent offers are, from an approved, dated source]
Bridge loans and HELOCs
A bridge loan or a home equity line of credit can let you use the equity in your current home before it sells. Terms, costs, and who qualifies vary a lot. I am not a lender, so talk to one early and get the numbers in writing before you make an offer.
Rent-back
In a rent-back, you sell your home but stay for a set time after closing, usually paying the buyer rent. That gives you cash in hand and time to close on your next home. Put the dates, rent, deposit, and condition at move-out in writing.
Keep your Florida homestead savings
Florida's Save Our Homes rule limits how fast the assessed value of a homestead can rise. Portability lets you transfer all or part of that savings, up to $500,000, to a new Florida homestead. You must establish the new homestead within three years of January 1 of the year you abandoned the old one, not three years after the sale. You file Form DR-501T with your homestead application (Form DR-501) by March 1 (Florida Department of Revenue, PT-112, and Rule 12D-8.0065, checked Oct 28, 2026).
If your new home is worth less than your old one, the amount that transfers is proportional (Rule 12D-8.0065, checked Oct 28, 2026). File with the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, and ask them about your numbers.
The costs of two transactions
- Selling costs: commission, title, doc stamps, and any repairs [STAT: typical seller costs as a percent of price, approved source with date]
- Buying costs: lender fees, title, inspections, insurance
- Overlap costs: a second payment, storage, short-term rent, or moving twice
- Association fees and estoppel costs if either home is in an HOA or condo
See your real numbers. Download my seller net sheet to estimate what you would walk away with, then plan your next purchase around it.
A sample timeline
- Weeks 1 to 2: free home value, lender pre-approval, and a plan for which comes first.
- Weeks 2 to 4: prep and list, and start touring.
- Under contract: line up the purchase, or a contingent offer, with your closing date.
- Closing: close both on the same day, or use a rent-back to bridge the gap.
- By March 1 of the next year: file for homestead and portability.
[STAT: median days on market in Palm Beach County, approved source with month]
FAQ
Can I close on both homes the same day? Often, yes, with title and lenders coordinated. It takes planning and a backup plan.
Do I lose my homestead savings when I sell? Not if you qualify and apply for portability on time.
Is a contingent offer a bad idea? Not always. It depends on how competitive the home you want is.
[PHOTO: moving boxes or a family packing, licensed stock or Brian's own, no client homes without permission]
What is the hardest part of timing your move? Tell me in the comments or call me.