Rent-back
If your home sells before your build is ready, I negotiate a rent-back agreement so you're not scrambling for temporary housing.
The Sell-to-Land Plan · Shakopee · Chaska · Chanhassen
Sell your home, and land straight in your new build.
Melissa Suddath · REALTOR® at Pemberton Real Estate
I help move-up families in the southwest Twin Cities sell their home and move into a new build without paying two mortgages or getting stuck between closings. My Sell-to-Land Plan maps the whole move backward from your build's completion date and runs both sides on one timeline, so you sell on schedule and walk straight from one closing into the next.
Why is selling to buy new construction different?
Here's why this one is different. When you buy an existing home, the timeline is fast and predictable, 30 to 60 days. New construction isn't: your build can take 6 to 14 months depending on the builder, floor plan, and supply chain. Builder contracts won't wait for your old house to sell, so the coordination is everything. Here's what makes it complex:
Builder contracts are non-negotiable on timeline, they won't wait for your current home to sell.
Depending on your equity, you may need bridge financing or a contingency offer.
Locking your mortgage rate while your home is still being built requires specific loan products.
Sell too early and you could be paying rent while you wait for the build to finish.
Sell too late and you risk not closing on your new home on time.
I've guided dozens of Southwest Metro homeowners through exactly this. The key is building a timeline that protects you on both sides.
The Sell-to-Land Plan
What is the Sell-to-Land Plan?
Most people moving up to a new build list their current home fast and figure out the build timing as they go, so the sale date and the build date drift apart and they end up with two mortgages or stuck in a rental with the kids. The Sell-to-Land Plan does the opposite: I map the whole move backward from your build's completion date before your home is ever listed, then run both sides on one timeline, so you sell on schedule and walk straight from one closing into the next.
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1 · The Move Map
It starts with a free CMA so we know your real equity, then we build the entire move backward from your build's completion date, before your home ever hits the market. Every date, the listing, the sale, and both closings, lives on one page, so nothing drifts and nothing surprises you.
Kills the timing trap
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2 · Sold on Schedule
Your current home priced and prepped on current MLS data, not a guess and not what you wish it were worth. It sells in the window the move needs, for what it's actually worth.
Kills the underpricing fear
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3 · At the Builder Table
The model-home rep works for the builder. I work for you: reading the contract line by line, pushing back on padded upgrade pricing, getting every incentive in writing, and making sure your inspection actually protects you. It costs you nothing, because the builder pays my commission.
Kills walking in alone
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4 · Never Between Homes
Buy-side and sell-side run together so you walk out of one closing and into the next. No two mortgages, no hotel with the kids, no gap. If the dates ever need a cushion, we plan the bridge before you need it.
Kills the gap
When plans shift
What happens if my build gets delayed?
Builds get delayed, and you'll have a plan anyway. Even with the best planning, builds slip and markets move, so I line up your options before you need them: a rent-back if your home sells early, bridge and short-term financing if it sells late, and fast pricing adjustments if the market turns. A surprise is never a crisis.
Bridge & short-term options
I have relationships with local short-term rental options and can help you explore bridge-loan products that let you close on the new home before the old one sells.
Fast pricing adjustments
If the market shifts, I adjust your pricing strategy quickly so you don't miss your builder's closing window.
You will never be left without a plan. That's what having a dedicated buy-sell specialist actually means.
The big decision
Should I sell first or buy first?
There is no single right answer. It comes down to your equity, your income, and how much risk you want to carry. Selling first frees your cash and keeps you from carrying two payments, but it can leave a housing gap. Buying first means one move and no rush to sell, but you carry both homes until the old one closes.
| Consideration | Sell first | Buy first |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Buyers who need their current equity to qualify or fund the new build, or who want to avoid carrying two payments. | Buyers with strong income or savings who can carry both homes and want to move only once. |
| Your cash position | Frees your equity up front and strengthens your financing. | May need a bridge loan or HELOC to cover the overlap until the old home sells. |
| Main risk | A housing gap if your home sells before the build is ready. | Carrying two mortgages if your current home is slow to sell. |
| Moves required | Possibly two, with interim housing or a rent-back, if the timing does not line up. | One move, straight into the new home. |
| How I handle it | I time your listing against the build and negotiate a rent-back so you are not scrambling. | I help you line up short-term financing and price to sell inside the builder's window. |
Financing the gap
Bridge loan, HELOC, or rent-back, which one fits?
These are the three common ways to cover the gap between buying your new home and selling your current one. A bridge loan and a HELOC both tap your current equity so you can buy before you sell. A rent-back lets you sell first and stay put for a set period. The right fit depends on your equity, your timeline, and your lender.
| Option | What it is | Best when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge loan | A short-term loan against your current home's equity that funds the new purchase before you sell. | You need to close on the new home before the old one sells and want a single move. | Higher rates and fees, plus a short payoff window once your home sells. |
| HELOC | A line of credit against your current home's equity that you draw on for the down payment and costs. | You have strong equity and set it up before you list, while you still own and occupy the home. | Usually must be opened before listing; variable rate; some lenders freeze it once the home is on the market. |
| Rent-back | You sell your current home and rent it back from the buyer for a set period after closing. | Your home sells before the build is ready and you want to avoid moving twice. | Depends on the buyer agreeing; limited to a short term; you pay daily occupancy rent. |
These are general guidelines and shift with rates, lenders, and your situation. Confirm the specifics for your move on a strategy call.
Start here
Get your number, first.
Before you do anything else, get a real figure from an agent who knows your neighborhood. I'll run a free CMA on your current home, no obligation, so you know your realistic net proceeds and can plan the move with confidence.
Last updated: June 2026