Three Arizona ways to buy your next home before you sell.
We're the lender, and there are now three ways we help Arizona homeowners buy the next home before selling the current one. We can get your current house payment ignored so you qualify now, free up the money in your current home with a bridge loan, or set up a $2,500 backup offer so you can shop with a safety net. We'll tell you which one fits.
Pick by your situation
| Your situation | Best solution | Starts at |
|---|---|---|
| I can't get approved while I'm still paying for my current home. | Qualify without selling | Talk to us |
| I found a house, but my cash is tied up in my current home. | Bridge loan | Talk to us |
| I want a guaranteed buyer lined up so I can make a strong offer. | Backup contract | $2,500 fee* |
| I need more than one of these together. | Combine: any two paths | See pricing |
| I'm not sure what I need. | Free strategy call | Free |
*Starting fee for a guaranteed price up to $500,000. Fees go up with higher home values, see the full pricing table.
Qualify for the next home without selling first.
When you can't get approved while still paying for your current home.
This is our newest path, and for a lot of buyers it's the simplest. We get your current house payment ignored when we run your approval, so you qualify for the next home right now. You don't have to sell first, and you don't have to take on extra financing to do it.
This works once one of these is true: your current home is already under contract, or it's listed for sale with about 20% of it paid off, or you've rented it out. Any one of those lets us set your current payment aside.
See if you qualify →- Your current house payment won't count against you
- Works when your home is under contract, listed with about 20% paid off, or rented out
- No need to sell before you buy
- No extra loan to take on
- We're the lender, so it's one team start to finish
Free up the money in your current home before you sell.
When your cash is tied up in your current home.
A bridge loan is a flexible loan built for this situation. It lets you borrow against the money you've built up in your current Arizona home so you can use it for the down payment on the new one. When your current home sells, the bridge loan is paid off in full from what you get for it.
Why ours is different: we're the lender, so we handle it in-house at Cornerstone, with no outside company in the middle and no extra delays. Bridge loans available up to $1 million.
Bridge loan deep-dive →- Use the money built up in your current home for the new down payment
- Closes right alongside your new purchase
- Paid off when your current home sells
- Bridge loans up to $1 million
- Handled in-house, no outside delays
Make a strong offer with a $2,500 backup.
When you want a guaranteed buyer in your back pocket.
A backup contract is a guaranteed offer to buy your current home, in writing, from a buyer we've already lined up. Because that offer is there, you can make a strong offer on the next home that doesn't depend on selling first, and you still get to sell on your own terms.
You stay in control of the sale:
- You keep any money your sale brings in above the backup offer
- You still use your own Realtor
- The backup only kicks in if your home doesn't sell in 180 days
- A guaranteed backup buyer lined up behind you
- Lets you make an offer that doesn't hinge on your sale
- 180-day window to sell at your price
- $2,500 starting fee, based on home value
- You choose your own listing agent
We found our dream home in Scottsdale before our Chandler house was even listed. The backup contract let us make a clean, non-contingent offer, and it cost us less than a tenth of what two other national programs quoted.
Sarah & Michael T.: Scottsdale, AZ · Upgraded to 4BR
Why buyers use this instead of selling first
| When your offer depends on selling first | With Buy Before You Sell |
|---|---|
| Weaker offer that sellers often turn down | Stronger offer that doesn't depend on your sale |
| You have to sell first, then scramble to buy | You buy first, then sell at your pace |
| Stressful, rushed timelines | More control over the whole move |
| Risk losing the target home if your sale stalls | The home you want stays yours regardless |
Common situations we help solve
- You already found the next home before listing yours
- You've lost out because your offer depended on selling first
- You need the money from your current home for the next down payment
- You can afford the payment but can't get approved while still paying for your current home
- You want to move before getting your current home ready to sell
- You're relocating within Arizona
- You want to compete stronger in Arizona's tight market
- You want to move on your timeline, not the buyer's
Real estate agents: if your buyer is stuck because they need to sell before they can buy, send them to us. Any of these three paths can free them up to write an offer now, so you keep the deal alive instead of losing it to timing.
Loan programs that work with Buy Before You Sell
These structures work with conventional, jumbo, and self-employed financing. They are not available on FHA, VA, or Down Payment Assistance (DPA) loans. Compatible with:
- Conventional, the workhorse for most Arizona move-up deals
- Jumbo, for higher-end Scottsdale and Paradise Valley moves
- Self-employed loans (bank statement, profit-and-loss, asset), for buyers outside standard guidelines
Full Cornerstone loan menu at cfmtg.com/loans.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to sell my house before I buy another one?
No. You can buy your next Arizona home before selling your current one. The real questions are how to qualify and where the down payment comes from, and we solve both three ways: get your current payment ignored so you qualify now, tap your equity with a bridge loan, or set up a $2,500 backup offer.
Which option is right for me: qualify without selling, a bridge loan, or a backup contract?
It depends on your equity, your timeline, and whether you're selling or keeping the home. If you can't carry both payments, we work to get the old one ignored. If your cash is tied up, a bridge frees it. If you want a safety net while you shop, the backup contract does that. We compare them and recommend the cheapest fit.
How much does the $2,500 backup contract cost?
The backup contract starts at $2,500. Bridge and qualify-without-selling costs depend on your file, and we walk every fee before you commit. We don't quote rates here.
Can I make a non-contingent offer if I haven't sold yet?
Yes. Once we structure your financing to exclude or fund your current home, you can write a clean, non-contingent offer that competes with cash buyers.
Are you a direct lender?
Yes. Cornerstone is a direct lender, so we control the underwriting and the timeline, and you work with one accountable contact from start to finish.
Not sure which service you need?
Send us your equity, target home price, and rough income. We’ll tell you in 20 minutes.
Free consultation