Should You Sell Now If You’re Afraid to Buy? A Strategy for Today’s Real Estate Market

If you’re thinking about selling your home right now, you may feel like you’re caught between two difficult decisions.

You want to sell—but you’re worried that this isn’t the strongest market for sellers.

And then there’s the other side of the equation: Where will you go next?

Mortgage rates are still much higher than the rates many homeowners became accustomed to in recent years. As of September 10, 2026, Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.76%.

So you may be thinking:

“Why would I sell when I may not get as much for my house as I would have a few years ago—and then turn around and buy another house with a higher mortgage rate?”

I understand why that feels like a difficult decision.

But after more than 29 years in real estate with RE/MAX, I’ve learned that waiting for the market to become “perfect” can sometimes keep homeowners from making a move that actually makes sense for their individual situation.

Instead of trying to time the market perfectly, I believe it is important to look at the entire transaction strategically.

If You Want to Sell, Pricing Is More Important Than Ever

The first step is getting your home priced correctly right from the beginning.

This is not the market where I would recommend starting with an overly ambitious price just to “see what happens.”

Buyers today have choices. They are paying attention to value, and they are comparing homes carefully.

If your home is overpriced when it hits the market, you may get fewer showings, fewer offers and eventually have to reduce the price.

That can put you in a weaker negotiating position.

A properly priced home, on the other hand, gives you the best opportunity to attract serious buyers when your listing is getting the most attention.

The goal isn’t to give your home away. The goal is to price it based on today’s market so that you have the best chance of getting it sold.

That’s where having an experienced Realtor matters.

Pricing isn’t simply looking at what your neighbor’s house sold for. It means looking at the condition of your home, location, competition, recent comparable sales, current inventory and what buyers are actually responding to.

But What Happens When You Need to Buy?

This is where I think sellers sometimes overlook an important part of the equation.

When you sell your current home, you are not only a seller.

You become a buyer.

And that means you may have an opportunity to negotiate on the purchase of your next home.

Depending on the property and the seller’s circumstances, you may be able to negotiate seller concessions that can help with your upfront costs or potentially help fund a mortgage rate buydown.

Seller concessions are negotiated as part of the purchase contract, and they can sometimes be used toward allowable buyer costs. Colorado’s Real Estate Manual specifically recognizes seller concessions or contributions as one potential way to address transaction costs, while also noting that buyers should consult their lender because concessions can affect mortgage financing.

Your lender can help determine what is allowed for your particular loan and whether using seller contributions toward a rate buydown makes sense for you.

Instead of Waiting for the Perfect Interest Rate, Look at the Whole Deal

This is an important distinction.

You don’t necessarily have to find a house where the seller simply agrees to lower the price.

You can negotiate the overall terms of the transaction.

For example, a buyer might negotiate a seller concession that could be used, subject to the buyer’s loan program and lender requirements, toward an interest-rate buydown.

Freddie Mac notes that borrowers may have the option to pay discount points to reduce their mortgage interest rate, although the financial benefit depends on the specific situation and loan terms.

That’s why I always encourage buyers to talk with their lender before deciding exactly how they want to structure the negotiation.

The right question isn’t simply:

“What is the interest rate?”

It is:

“What does the entire financial picture look like?”

The Seller and Buyer Strategies Can Work Together

This is where selling and buying at the same time can actually make sense.

You may sell your current home in a market where buyers are more price-sensitive.

So you price your home correctly, prepare it properly and market it aggressively to attract the right buyer.

Then, when you purchase your next home, you may have more negotiating opportunities than you would have had in a highly competitive seller’s market.

You may be able to negotiate on things such as:

• Seller concessions
• Closing costs
• A mortgage rate buydown
• Repairs or other transaction terms
• Price, depending on the property and circumstances

Every transaction is different, and not every seller will agree to concessions. But the ability to negotiate is something buyers should be discussing with their Realtor and lender.

Don’t Let One Number Stop You From Making a Move

I have talked with many homeowners over the years who get stuck focusing on one number.

They may be focused on the price they think their house should sell for.

Or they’re focused on today’s mortgage rate.

But buying and selling a home is about much more than one number.

If you want to move because your home is too small, too large, you want to be closer to family, you need a different neighborhood, you’re downsizing or your lifestyle has changed, it may still make sense to make a move.

The market doesn’t have to be perfect.

The numbers and the strategy need to make sense for you.

My Advice After 29+ Years in Real Estate

If you’ve been thinking about selling but have been afraid to make a move because you’re worried about today’s market, don’t automatically assume that you have to wait.

Start by finding out what your home is realistically worth in today’s market.

Then determine what you would want to buy and what that purchase would look like financially.

Talk with a lender about your financing options, including whether a seller concession could potentially be used toward a rate buydown.

Then you can make a decision based on your actual numbers—not fear about what the market might do next.

You don’t have to love today’s interest rate to buy a home. And you don’t have to love today’s seller’s market to sell one.

You need a plan.

After more than 29 years with RE/MAX, that’s one of the biggest things I bring to my clients: experience looking at the entire transaction—not just one side of it.

If you’re considering selling your Colorado home but aren’t sure whether now is the right time to make a move, I’d be happy to help you look at the numbers and develop a strategy based on your specific situation.

Sue Monroe
RE/MAX Leaders
Over 29 Years of Real Estate Experience
303-717-7349
suemonroe@remax.net
www.suemonroe.com