Author: O.K. Hogan | REALTOR®/BROKER, CCIM, SFR

When my wife and I first started spending summers in Carteret County, I thought of this area as a retreat; a place where the salt breeze carried away stress. After we moved to Beaufort full-time in 2000, I began to see it from both perspectives: the eager out-of-towner hunting for the right home and the long-time local making careful, numbers-driven decisions. That dual view still shapes how I advise clients today.

If you’re weighing a move in North Carolina, you’ve probably felt stuck between two doors: the one you need to close (your current home) and the one you want to open (the next one). In a market that rewards clean, non-contingent offers, “Buy Before You Sell” programs give you a practical way to secure your next home first; and then sell on your timeline.

Why Buy Before You Sell Programs Are Growing in NC

The market isn't in the frenzy of 2021, but it’s still tricky. Inventory has risen enough to give buyers more choices, yet affordability remains tight and days-on-market can vary by county and community. In July 2025, the National Association of REALTORS® Existing-Home Sales Report noted 1.55 million homes for sale, equal to 4.6 months’ supply, at a 4.01 million annualized sales pace. Those figures confirm a market in transition rather than a free-fall or a surge.

Another dynamic shaping decisions: the balance between buyers and sellers. According to Redfin’s 2025 housing market analysis, there were nearly 500,000 more sellers than buyers nationwide; the widest gap since 2013. That imbalance gives buyers more leverage on terms, making clean, non-contingent offers more powerful than ever.

For new-construction buyers, Yahoo’s New-Home Sales Report showed a 0.6% dip with 499,000 new-home units available, keeping supply elevated compared to historic norms. This impacts whether families choose spec homes, quick move-ins, or resale options.

Types of Buy Before You Sell Options in North Carolina

There’s no one-size-fits-all. Here in NC, four common paths solve the “chicken-and-egg” problem:

1. Cash-backed buy-before-you-sell programs. Specialized providers make a cash offer on your next home (or “back” your offer to function like cash). This is also how innovative solutions like Instant Cash Offers & Alternative Financing work; giving sellers and buyers multiple pathways without listing delays.
   
   
2. Bridge loans. A short-term loan that taps your existing home’s equity to help fund the next purchase.
   
   
3. HELOCs or home-equity loans. Use your tappable equity for a down payment and closing costs while you list your current home.
   
   
4. Seller rent-backs. Close with your buyer and rent back for a set period.

How Cash-Backed Buy Before You Sell Programs Work

Imagine you’ve found the right home in Emerald Isle, but your Beaufort place isn’t on the market yet:

1. Get pre-underwritten. You’ll be vetted for both the program and your end mortgage.
   
   
2. Make a cash-like offer. The provider purchases with cash or backs your offer to remove the home-sale contingency.
   
   
3. Move once. You take short-term occupancy and pay a modest daily or monthly cost.
   
   
4. List and sell your current home.
   
   
5. Refinance/finance the new home into your name and retire the program’s short-term structure.

Buy Before You Sell Program Costs and How to Calculate Them

Programs typically charge a fee (1%–3%) plus temporary occupancy costs while you list your old home. Bridge loans carry short-term interest; HELOCs carry ongoing interest.

The Mortgage Bankers Association Home Equity Lending Study projects almost 10% growth in HELOC debt in 2025, showing how owners are increasingly using equity as a flexible bridge. Meanwhile, the ICE Mortgage Monitor (August 2025) estimates homeowners have $11.6 trillion in tappable equity, averaging $213,000 per household. That equity backdrop expands financing choices and helps make buy-before-you-sell viable.

As a retired accountant and CCIM, I always encourage clients to model two cases:

• Case A: Using a buy-before-you-sell program with fees.
  
  
• Case B: Going traditional with a sale contingency and potential double move.
  
  

The side-by-side view clarifies the premium you’re paying; and the risks you’re reducing.

Pros and Cons of Buy Before You Sell Programs in NC

Pros

• Stronger, non-contingent offers
  
  
• Only one move
  
  
• More control over timing
  
  

Cons

• Added program fees or short-term interest
  
  
• Risk of carrying two homes briefly
  
  
• Limited program availability in some NC markets
  
  

It’s like paying an insurance premium for peace of mind. For many families, that peace is worth the cost.

North Carolina Buy Before You Sell Success Stories

Scenario 1: Move-Up on the Water (Cash-Backed Program). A Morehead City family lost twice with sale-contingent offers on a canal-front property. With a cash-backed structure, their third offer won, they moved once, and then listed their old home at full value.

Scenario 2: Equity-Rich, Low Stress (HELOC). A Newport couple used a HELOC to fund their next purchase, comfortable carrying two obligations for 90 days.

Scenario 3: Timing Cushion (Rent-Back). In Beaufort, one seller negotiated a 30-day rent-back to align school calendars. Simple, but effective.

Final Thoughts on Buy Before You Sell Programs in North Carolina

Real estate decisions involve more than numbers; they’re about timing, family, and quality of life. In North Carolina, buy-before-you-sell programs can be the right tool to win your next home without two moves, especially in a market where inventory is improving, equity is abundant, and clean offers carry weight.

At Star Team Real Estate, we combine financial clarity (my accountant/CCIM perspective) with deep local expertise across the Crystal Coast and Wilmington regions. We’ll help you compare cash-backed programs, bridge loans, HELOCs, and even alternative financing options like our Instant Cash Offers & Creative Financing solutions.

When you’re ready to explore the best way to secure your next home here in North Carolina, reach out to Star Team Real Estate at (252) 727-5656; we’re proud to be your local partners, offering results you can count on and relationships you can trust.