Buy Before You Sell (BBYS) is a financing solution that allows California homeowners to purchase their next home before selling their current one — without contingencies, without temporary housing, and without the financial stress of carrying two mortgages on their own. The program bridges the gap between owning your current home and moving into a new one.

The Problem It Solves

In a competitive California real estate market, contingent offers — those that require the sale of your current home first — are frequently rejected by sellers. BBYS eliminates the contingency, allowing you to make a clean, competitive, non-contingent offer on your next home while you still own your current one.

How It Works

Depending on the specific program structure, BBYS works in one of two ways:

• Equity advance model: A BBYS provider advances you a portion of your current home’s equity before it sells. You use those funds for your down payment on the new home. After you move, you list and sell your current home and settle up with the provider.
• Bridge loan model: A short-term bridge loan is secured against your current home to fund the down payment on the new one. The bridge is repaid when your current home sells.

The Timeline

Most BBYS programs allow 6 to 12 months to sell your departing residence after closing on the new purchase. This gives you time to move, prepare the home for market, and sell without pressure.