Two homes. One carefully coordinated move.

Define what depends on the sale.

Do you need money from selling your current home for the next down payment? Will you need to sell before the lender can approve the next loan? Could you afford both homes for a short time? These are separate questions worth answering early.

Make a simple timeline with your agent and loan officer. Show what cash you have now, what you expect after the sale and what happens if either closing is delayed.

A pending sale is not the same as a closed sale.

Until your current home sells, its mortgage payment may still count when a lender decides what you can borrow. A signed sales contract does not always let the lender leave that payment out. Fannie Mae’s rules for a home that is being sold explain one set of requirements.

Ask your loan officer what proof is needed and when. If the sale runs late, find out whether your next loan can still move forward. If another loan is suggested to cover the gap, ask about its fees, payments and repayment deadline.

Coordinate the handoffs, not just the dates.

Two closing dates on a calendar do not tell you when the money will be ready. Ask who will confirm the sale proceeds, how the money reaches the next purchase and what could hold it up.

The Closing Disclosure lists the final loan terms and closing costs. For mortgages covered by this rule, you must receive it at least three business days before closing. Compare it with your earlier Loan Estimate and ask about changes. The CFPB explains the Closing Disclosure.

Your agent handles questions about the purchase contract and move-in arrangements. Your loan officer handles the financing. Keeping them in touch helps you know what happens next.

Agree on a fallback before you need it.

• What funds are available without the sale proceeds?
• Can the next loan still be approved if my current home has not sold?
• Who confirms the actual transfer and availability of closing funds?
• What would a delay mean for housing, storage and moving plans?
• Which deadlines require action from the agent, escrow team or lender?

When instructions for moving money arrive, verify them through a trusted, independently confirmed contact method. Do not rely on a changed wire instruction simply because it appears in an email thread. The CFPB’s closing-process guidance includes preparation steps and fraud precautions.

Local relationships can make it easier to reach the people involved and discuss an issue promptly. The practical value is coordination: fewer unanswered questions about who does what next. No relationship eliminates a contingency, guarantees acceptance or makes a closing date certain.