Two Homeowners Want to Move. For Now, We’re Waiting to List.

Sometimes helping a client means giving them room to decide that selling can wait.

I’m working with two homeowners who want to sell and move.

One wants to relocate to the East Coast. The other wants to move closer to Austin.

They have different destinations, but our conversations have reached a similar point: selling now may leave them with little financial room after the transaction.

For now, both have chosen to wait.

I think that part of real estate deserves to be discussed, too.

The challenge: wanting to move without enough financial cushion

Both homeowners purchased during the pandemic.

As we’ve discussed their potential sales, the concern has been how much equity would actually be available after selling. Based on the pricing and expenses we’ve been considering, they could be looking at little more than breaking even.

That affects what comes next.

A homeowner may want a different location, a shorter drive, or a new chapter. But they also need to consider what it will cost to leave the current home and establish themselves somewhere else.

Moving expenses, the next housing arrangement, and the money they want to keep available all belong in that conversation.

For these homeowners, the potential financial margin feels too narrow to move forward comfortably right now.

Selling the home and being comfortable with the outcome are different questions

I believe we could pursue a sale with appropriate pricing and thoughtful positioning.

But getting a property sold is only part of my responsibility.

I also want the homeowner to understand what the sale could mean for them financially. What might remain after the mortgage payoff and transaction expenses? What would they need for their next move? How much flexibility would they have if something changed?

A price that attracts a buyer may still produce an outcome the seller isn’t comfortable accepting.

That deserves an honest conversation before the home goes on the market.

My approach: discuss the decision before pushing the timeline

I want clients to be able to tell me they’re unsure.

They should have room to ask questions, reconsider their plans, and decide that the timing doesn’t work for them.

With these two homeowners, waiting gives them space to remain where they are while continuing to evaluate their options.

If I were facing the same narrow financial margin and had the ability to stay, I would be cautious about selling, too.

That doesn’t mean my circumstances or preferences should make the decision for someone else. It means I understand their hesitation, and I’m comfortable supporting a decision that reflects their priorities.

Waiting is a decision we’ll continue to evaluate

I can’t promise that waiting will produce a higher sale price or a particular amount of equity.

Market conditions can change. So can ownership costs, mortgage balances, and the cost of the next home.

The reason to wait is that selling under the circumstances we’re considering doesn’t currently give these homeowners the comfort they want.

We can revisit that as their situations change.

When we do, I want to review the full picture again, including current competition, likely selling expenses, their mortgage payoff, and the cost of their next move.

The current outcome: two postponed listings

These homes haven’t been sold. The homeowners still want to move, but they’ve chosen to postpone listing while they consider their financial position.

I respect that.

I don’t want someone to feel that asking me about selling commits them to putting their home on the market. You’re allowed to explore the numbers and decide to stay.

My job is to help you understand your options and prepare for the decision you’re comfortable making.

Sometimes that leads to a listing.

Sometimes it leads to a plan to check in again later.

Thinking about selling but unsure whether the numbers work? Contact April Guerra to discuss your home, your goals, and what a potential sale could look like.

April Guerra is a Texas Realtor with Texas Oak Realty Group powered by LPT Realty. Identifying client and property details have been omitted for privacy. These homeowners’ circumstances are individual examples, not a recommendation that every homeowner should wait to sell.