Maybe your family needs another bedroom.

Maybe the garage is overflowing.

Maybe working from home changed what you need from your space.

Or maybe the house that worked five years ago simply doesn’t work anymore.

For homeowners in this position, the question usually isn’t just:

“Can we buy a bigger house?”

It’s:

“How do we sell this house and buy the next one without everything becoming a mess?”

That’s where move-up planning really begins.

There isn’t one perfect order that works for every Utah homeowner. Some people sell first. Some buy first. Some coordinate both transactions. The right approach depends on your equity, financing, timeline, comfort level, and current market conditions.

Here’s how I recommend thinking through it.

1. Start With the Numbers Before You Start Touring Homes

This is probably the least exciting part of moving up, but it’s also one of the most important.

Before you start falling in love with the next house, you should have a clearer idea of what your current home could realistically sell for and what your estimated net proceeds may look like.

That means looking at more than an online home estimate.

I want to consider:

• Comparable sales
• Current competition
• Pending activity when available
• Your home’s condition
• Updates and features
• Lot and location
• Likely selling costs
• Your approximate mortgage payoff

From there, we can build a more useful estimate of what you may have available for your next move.

If you’re also wondering what you should—or shouldn’t—spend money fixing before your current home goes on the market, I put together a separate guide on What Should You Fix Before Selling Your Home in Utah?

Then your lender can help determine what that means for your next purchase.

2. Understand Your Equity — But Don’t Guess

A homeowner may look at an online estimate, subtract the mortgage balance, and assume the difference is what they’ll have available.

That’s not quite the same as estimated net proceeds.

Your actual result can also be affected by transaction costs, seller concessions, repairs, preparation expenses, and the final sale price.

That’s why I like starting with a realistic range instead of building a move around an optimistic number.

The goal isn’t to tell you the biggest number possible.

It’s to give you numbers you can actually use to make decisions.

3. Option One: Sell First, Then Buy

For some homeowners, selling first creates the most financial clarity.

You know what your home actually sold for.

You know your proceeds.

And you have a better idea of what you’re working with for the next purchase.

The downside is timing.

What happens if your house sells before you find the next one?

That’s where planning matters.

Depending on the transaction, there may be options to discuss around possession, closing dates, temporary housing, or other contract terms.

There isn’t one solution that works every time, so this needs to be evaluated based on the actual situation.

4. Option Two: Buy First, Then Sell

Some homeowners may be in a position to purchase the next property before the current one sells.

That can simplify the physical move because you’re not trying to coordinate everything on the same day.

But the financial side has to make sense.

A lender should help you understand whether you qualify, how your current mortgage affects the next purchase, what cash you need, and whether carrying both obligations temporarily is something you’re comfortable with.

Just because something can be financed doesn’t automatically mean it’s the right choice for your household.

5. Option Three: Coordinate the Sale and Purchase

Another route is to connect the two transactions in some way.

The exact strategy can depend on your financing, the home you’re selling, the home you’re buying, negotiating position, contract terms, and the market at the time.

This is where starting early can make a huge difference.

Someone who has already discussed value, financing, timing, and backup plans has more information when the right house comes along.

Someone who finds the perfect home first and then asks, “Now what do we do with our house?” is suddenly making decisions under much more pressure.

6. Decide What the Next Home Actually Needs to Fix

Moving up shouldn’t simply mean buying a more expensive house.

It should solve something.

Maybe you need:

• A fourth bedroom
• A home office
• More garage space
• A larger yard
• Better storage
• An ADU or multigenerational setup
• More room for recreational equipment
• A different location
• A layout that works better for your family

Before we start looking, I want to understand what isn’t working in your current house.

Otherwise, it’s easy to spend significantly more money and still end up frustrated by many of the same things.

If Tooele County is one of the areas you’re considering for your next home, I also recommend reading Moving to Tooele County, Utah: 6 Things to Consider Before Choosing Where to Live. It covers the commute, communities, housing options, lifestyle, and other things I want buyers to think about before deciding where to focus their search.

7. Think About the Monthly Payment, Not Just the Purchase Price

Move-up buyers are often focused on the price of the next house.

But the full monthly picture matters more than the list price alone.

Your lender can help you evaluate things like:

• Principal and interest
• Property taxes
• Homeowners insurance
• Mortgage insurance when applicable
• HOA costs when applicable
• Your other monthly debts

I’d rather have you understand the payment before you fall in love with a property.

A bigger home should improve your life.

It shouldn’t automatically mean stretching your budget to a point where you’re uncomfortable every month.

8. Your Current Home and Your Next Home Should Be One Strategy

This is one of the biggest things I want move-up homeowners to understand.

Selling your current home and buying the next one are not two completely separate events.

They are one move.

On the sale side, I’m thinking about:

Pricing.

Preparation.

Marketing.

Estimated net proceeds.

Timing.

Negotiation.

On the purchase side, I’m thinking about:

Financing.

Budget.

Location.

Comparable sales.

Inspections.

Offer terms.

Risk.

The decisions on one side affect the other.

That’s why I prefer to plan both together.

You Don’t Need to Be Ready to List Tomorrow

One thing I want homeowners to know is that talking with a Realtor about moving up does not mean your home needs to go on the market next week.

You might be six months away.

You might be a year away.

That’s still a useful time to start planning.

An early conversation can help you understand your probable value range, possible equity, what preparation your home may need, what your lender needs from you, and what kind of next home would actually make the move worthwhile.

Sometimes the result is:

Yes, now makes sense.

Sometimes it’s:

We should prepare for a few months first.

And sometimes it’s:

We’re better off staying where we are for now.

I’m comfortable with all three answers.

The point of the conversation is to help you make the right move, not just create a transaction.

Thinking About Moving Up?

If your current home no longer fits but the idea of selling and buying at the same time feels overwhelming, you don’t need to figure out the sequence on your own.

We can start with your current home, estimated value and net proceeds, what you want from the next property, and the different ways the timing could work.

Then you can decide whether moving now actually makes sense.

The goal isn’t simply to buy a bigger house.

It’s to find the right home base for what comes next.

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FAQ Section

Should I sell my current home before buying another one?

Not necessarily. The right sequence depends on your financing, equity, timeline, comfort level, market conditions, and the properties involved.

How do I know how much equity I have available?

Start with an evidence-based estimate of your current home’s value and estimated selling costs. A seller net sheet can give you a more useful estimate than simply subtracting your mortgage balance from an online home estimate.

Should I talk to a Realtor or lender first?

Either can be a good starting point, but both should be involved early. Your Realtor can help estimate value and selling strategy, while your lender can help determine what financing options and monthly payment range may work for you.

How early should I start planning a move-up purchase?

You can start months before you intend to move. Early planning gives you more time to evaluate equity, financing, preparation, and the type of home you actually want next.

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Sarah Kerchner, REALTOR®
Keller Williams South Valley
714-307-5107
Your Home Base for Every Adventure.