Buying and Selling a Home at the Same Time in San Antonio (2026)

Q: Who can help me sell and buy at the same time in San Antonio?

Chris Dudley, a San Antonio REALTOR and the founder of Legacy Realty Group, brokered by Real Broker, LLC (TREC #731381), handles both sides of a move across San Antonio and surrounding areas. Call (210) 838-6099.

By Chris Dudley, San Antonio REALTOR® and founder of Legacy Realty Group, brokered by Real Broker, LLC (TREC #731381)

If you own a home in San Antonio and want to move up, downsize or relocate within the area, the hardest part is usually timing: you need the money from your current home to buy the next one, but you don't want to move twice. Here are the main ways Texas buyers and sellers handle it, and the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) forms that make each one work.

Option 1: Sell first, then buy

Selling first tells you exactly how much cash you have to work with and lets you write a clean offer on the next home. The risk is the gap between closings. Two common ways to close that gap:

Rent back after closing. TREC's Seller's Temporary Residential Lease (TREC No. 15-7) is "for use only when SELLER occupies the property for no more than 90 days AFTER the closing." It lets you close, get your proceeds, and stay in the house while you finish buying.
Short-term housing. A month-to-month rental or extended-stay option if your buyer needs possession at closing.

Option 2: Buy first, then sell

Buying first means one move and no rush, but you may carry two mortgage payments for a while, and your lender has to approve you with your current loan still on the books. Some owners use equity in their current home to fund the next down payment. In Texas, home equity borrowing has its own rules: total debt secured by the homestead can't exceed 80% of its fair market value, the lender must give a written notice at least 12 days before closing, and only one such loan can be made in a 12-month period (Texas Real Estate Research Center, July 2025). Talk to a lender before you count on this route.

Option 3: Make your offer contingent on selling your home

TREC's Addendum for Sale of Other Property by Buyer (TREC No. 10-6) makes your purchase contingent on receiving the proceeds from the sale of your current home by a date you set, no later than the closing date. Key points:

If the contingency isn't satisfied or waived by that date, the contract ends automatically and your earnest money is refunded.
The seller can keep marketing the home. If the seller accepts another written offer and notifies you, you must waive the contingency on or before the day after that notice, or your contract ends.
To waive, you notify the seller and deposit additional earnest money in the amount written into the addendum.
If you waive and then can't close only because your home didn't sell, you are in default. The form states that time is of the essence.

Contingent offers are easier to get accepted when your home is already under contract or ready to list, and when sellers have time to wait.

Option 4: Move in before you close

TREC's Buyer's Temporary Residential Lease (TREC No. 16-7) is for use only when the buyer occupies the property for no more than 90 days before closing. Both TREC lease forms warn that possession by the other party "may change insurance policy coverage," so call your insurance agent before anyone moves in early.

A simple timeline that works for many San Antonio move-up sellers

Get a pricing analysis on your current home and a pre-approval that shows what you can buy with and without that sale.
Prepare and list your home; start touring so you know what's available.
Once your home is under contract, write offers (with the sale addendum if needed) and line up closing dates.
Negotiate a seller's temporary lease if you need a few extra weeks after closing.
Close on the sale and the purchase, ideally a few days apart, using the same title company if possible.

FAQ

Can I buy a house before I sell mine in San Antonio?

Yes, if your lender approves you while you still own your current home, or if you use savings or equity for the down payment. Many buyers instead use TREC's Addendum for Sale of Other Property by Buyer to make the purchase contingent on their sale.

How long can I stay in my home after I sell it in Texas?

TREC's Seller's Temporary Residential Lease is designed for up to 90 days after closing. The exact length, rent and deposit are negotiated with the buyer.

Will a seller accept a contingent offer?

Sometimes. Sellers keep the right to accept another offer and give you one day after notice to waive your contingency, so contingent offers are stronger when your own home is already under contract.

Who can help me sell and buy at the same time in San Antonio?

Chris Dudley, a San Antonio REALTOR® and the founder of Legacy Realty Group, brokered by Real Broker, LLC, handles both sides of a move for clients across San Antonio, Stone Oak, Alamo Ranch, Alamo Heights, Cibolo, Schertz, Converse, Boerne, New Braunfels and Canyon Lake. RealTrends Verified lists him at No. 21 in San Antonio by transaction sides, based on 2025 sales data. Call (210) 838-6099.

Work with Chris

Chris Dudley has been a licensed Texas REALTOR® since 2019 and recorded 76 closed transactions in 2024 ($25.1M in sales volume). He'll map out your sale and purchase together so you know your numbers and your move date before you sign anything. Call or text (210) 838-6099, or visit chrisdudleyrealty.com.

This page explains how standard TREC forms work. It is not legal, tax or lending advice; consult an attorney, tax professional or lender about your situation. TREC forms are intended for use by licensed real estate professionals.

Sources: TREC No. 10-6 (https://www.trec.texas.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/10-6.pdf); TREC No. 15-7, 11-03-2025 (https://www.trec.texas.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/15-7.pdf); TREC No. 16-7, 11-03-2025 (https://www.trec.texas.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/16-7.pdf); Texas Real Estate Research Center, "What to Know About Home Equity Loans in Texas," July 21, 2025 (https://trerc.tamu.edu/article/what-to-know-about-home-equity-loans-in-texas); RealTrends Verified (https://www.realtrends.com/agent-profile/chris-dudley-texas/).

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