Traditional home-buying is costly, inconvenient, and puts you at a disadvantage against cash buyers. Buy Before You Sell solutions help solve this problem.
The need to solve this problem has led to multiple companies providing a wide array of approaches and strategies which have different benefits and costs. At buybeforeyousell.org, we are here to help you understand and evaluate these solutions.
The Problems With the Traditional Home Buying Process
Stuck Until You Sell
Most homeowners can’t make an offer on their next house until their current one sells, causing delays and missed opportunities.
Complicated Process
The traditional way of buying and selling is stressful, full of paperwork, and often leaves families caught in limbo.
Losing to Cash Buyers
Most homeowners can’t make an offer on their next house until their current one sells, causing delays and missed opportunities.
Expert Insights and Guidance
Home ownership has declined due to higher rates and competition with cash buyers. We’re bringing you expert guidance and leading industry resources to help you learn how you can Buy Before You Sell –and what that means to you.
How People Have Attempted to Solve
These are major versions of historical Buy Before You Sell solutions
Cross-Collateral Bridge
This option lets homeowners use the equity in their current home to buy a new one. Cross-collateralization means both properties are used to secure a temporary loan on the arriving residence. After the old home sells, the bridge loan is typically refinanced into a permanent mortgage. Cross-collateralized bridge loans can allow you to access large amounts of equity but often come with high interest rates and strict requirements.
Quick note: Many lenders offer cross-collateralized bridge loans.
Power Lender Model
At the root of the home sale contingency is the requirement most lenders have to qualify a borrower to make the mortgage payments on their old home and their new home unless the old home has sold. Power lending solutions provide a guaranteed backup offer that allows lenders to treat the old home as if it’s already sold. This allows homeowners to purchase their next home with a conventional mortgage, while still allowing the homeowner’s agent time to sell on the open market.
iBuyer
Institutional buyers provide quick transactions but charge extra fees and cut into profits. Homeowners typically sell below market value, and may or may not save on transaction expenses. The institutional buyers then resell the home to someone else, leading to duplicate transaction costs.
Power Buyer
This approach allows consumers to make a cash offer through a company that later sells the home back to them. While cash offers are stronger, purchasing the next home requires heavy upfront capital and adds higher interest rates, much like a bridge loan. Power buyers often work with real estate agents while bridge loans are often originated through loan officers.
Cost Comparison Matrix
See how pricing, fees, and timelines stack up across leading Buy Before You Sell models.
Model
Cross-Collateral Bridge
Power Lender
iBuyer
Power Buyer
Costs & Fees
High interest, lender fees, risk of double payments
Minimal fees, conventional loan rates
5–10% fees, lower offers, extra costs
High interest, program fees, added capital
Home Sale Value
Usually full, but rushed sales
Up to full market price
90–95% of market value
Full value (after resale)
Timeline
Fast approval, repayment pressure
Fast approval, up to 180 days to sell on market
Very fast (7–14 days)
Competitive but complex steps
Key Takeaway
Expensive but fast purchase; can be very expensive if old home doesn’t sell quickly
Least expensive, homeowner needs to have equity in current home
️Quick but equity loss
Strong offers, costly process
Explore Buy Before You Sell Options
Learn how each company’s solution works, from costs to lender partnerships — all in one place.
Cross-Collateral Bridge
Knock helps homeowners buy before they sell through home equity advances, bridge financing, and home sale support.
Fees: Varies by market and financing structure. Timeline: Varies based on financing and home sale. Key Services: Home equity access, bridge financing, Buy Before You Sell support, mortgage and agent partnerships.
Flyhomes helps buyers compete with cash-backed offers and provides BBYS solutions through bridge financing and mortgage products.
Fees: Varies by market and financing product. Timeline: Varies based on financing and home sale completion. Key Services: Cash Offer program, bridge financing, Buy Before You Sell solutions, mortgage services.
Calque is a fintech real estate company offering buy before you sell solutions like The Trade-In Mortgage and Contingency Buster.
Fees: $2000 admin fee + 1% guaranteed backup offer Timeline: Equity advance & guaranteed backup offer for up to 180 days Key Services: Buy before you sell solutions with included equity advance, no home sale contingency, multiple program tiers
HomeLight connects consumers with agents while offering Buy Before You Sell, bridge financing, and cash-backed purchasing solutions.
Fees: Costs vary by financing product, market, and lender Timeline: Varies based on financing and home sale completion. Key Services: Buy Before You Sell, bridge financing, cash offer program, agent network
Homeward helps homeowners buy before they sell through cash-backed offers, mortgage solutions, and equity access programs.
Fees: Program fees and carrying costs vary by market Timeline: Timing varies by transaction. Key Services: Cash-backed offers, Buy Before You Sell solutions, mortgage services, equity access
Orchard is a Move First platform that helps homeowners buy before they sell through equity access, brokerage services, and home sale guarantee.
Fees: Program fee starts around 2.4% in some markets Timeline: Through Orchard's Move First program; timeline varies. Key Services: Move First, equity advance, Home Sale Guarantee, brokerage and listing support
