Buy Before You Sell

Buy First. Sell Later. Move Once.

Jim Black's bridge loan programs let you buy your next home before selling your current one. No temporary housing. No double moves. No stress.

Why Buy Before You Sell?

The traditional approach forces you to sell first, scramble for temporary housing, and buy under pressure. Jim's programs flip that script entirely.

Move Once, Stress Less

Buy your new home and move right in without selling your current one first. No temporary housing, no double moves, no storage units.

Qualify for 40-50% More

A backup offer on your current home means your existing mortgage is excluded from your debt-to-income calculation, dramatically increasing your buying power.

Unlock Your Equity Early

Tap into your home's equity before selling, giving you extra funds for your down payment or closing costs without waiting.

Make a Cash-Equivalent Offer

Your offer becomes as strong as cash and can close in as little as 10 days. Thousands of buyers have won competitive negotiations this way.

Sell for Top Dollar

While you settle into your new home, your old one can be listed staged, empty, and priced for maximum value. No rushed decisions.

No Monthly Payments on Bridge

Interest accrues and is due at payoff when your old home sells. No juggling two mortgage payments every month.

How It Works

Three straightforward steps from where you are now to settled in your new home.

01
01

Know Your Budget

Jim reviews your assets, equity position, and income to get you approved for the highest loan amount available. You'll know exactly what you can afford before you start shopping.

02
02

Make a Winning Offer and Move

Submit a strong, non-contingent offer without a home sale contingency. Once you close, move straight into your new home. No double moves, no storage.

03
03

Sell Your Old Home

Work with your agent to sell your old home for top dollar. Once it sells, the bridge loan is paid off from the proceeds. You're left with just your new mortgage.

"A bridge loan isn't a last resort. It's a strategic tool that lets you move like a cash buyer without actually having all the cash."

Jim Black, NMLS #250769

Three Programs. One Goal.

Jim offers three distinct bridge loan structures depending on your situation, timeline, and goals. Here's how each one works.

Program 01

Cash-Equivalent Purchase Bridge

A purchase bridge loan that turns your offer into a non-contingent, cash-equivalent offer. Close in as little as 10 days and compete with all-cash buyers in any market.

Offer as strong as cash, close in as little as 10 days
Up to 95% LTV on your new home purchase
Buy with as little as 5% down, leveraging equity, 401(k), or investments
No monthly payments due — interest accrues until payoff

Best For

Buyers who want to compete with cash offers in a competitive market and move on their timeline.

10

Days to close

95%

Max LTV

Program 02

Instant Equity Access

A home equity loan that lets you access your current home's equity before you've sold it. Use those funds as a down payment or for closing costs on your next home.

Unlock equity in your current home before selling
Use funds for down payment or closing costs
Works whether your home is listed, contingent, or not yet on market
No monthly payments due — interest accrues until payoff

Best For

Homeowners who need additional down payment funds and want flexibility on when they list their current home.

Maximum Flexibility

Your departing home can be listed, under contract, or not yet on the market. This program works at any stage of your selling process.

Program 03

Guaranteed Backup Contract

A backup purchase contract placed on your current home, allowing your underwriter to exclude your existing mortgage from your DTI calculation. The result: you qualify for dramatically more.

Existing mortgage excluded from DTI calculation
Qualify for 40-50% more purchasing power
Remove home sale contingency from your offer
Guaranteed backup sale at full market value, no discounts

Best For

Buyers who need to maximize their loan approval amount and want the security of a guaranteed backup offer on their current home.

40-50%

More purchasing power by excluding your current mortgage from the DTI calculation.

For Real Estate Agents

Win More Deals. Close with Confidence.

Partnering with Jim on bridge loan transactions gives your clients a competitive edge and gives you a reliable path to more closings.

01
01

Make Deals Happen

Enable your clients to secure their dream home by helping them get pre-approved for a larger budget or submit a cash-equivalent offer. Never lose a client due to financing challenges.

02
02

Win More Listings

Every Buy Before You Sell transaction comes with a listing opportunity on the departing home. Build a stronger listing record and grow your business from both sides of the deal.

03
03

No Failed Deals

Close faster and secure your commissions with confidence by removing home sale contingencies. Sellers love clean offers, and your clients can deliver exactly that.

Ready to Partner?

Join agents across the country who use bridge loans to win more listings, close more deals, and deliver a better experience to their clients.

View Agent Partnership Page

Talk to Jim Directly

Have a deal in mind right now? Call Jim and walk through the numbers together. He responds fast and knows how to structure deals that work.

Call Jim: 925-285-4898

In Their Own Words

Real buyers who bought before they sold and only moved once.

"We were only going to move once we found the house we wanted. We needed the equity out of our current house to buy the next one. This is truly the perfect product for the situation our family was in."

Carly K.

San Jose, CA

"Jim made it simple. Buy Before You Sell made it simple. With families especially, the ease of getting into your new house before you sell your old place just makes sense."

Andrew S.

Austin, TX

"Without the cash-equivalent offer program, I don't think I would have been able to get the house I wanted. Jim walked me through every number and it made total sense for our situation."

John W.

Portland, OR

Real Example: The Numbers

Let's walk through a real scenario so you can see exactly how the math works.

Current Home Value

$900,000

Estimated market value

Remaining Mortgage

$350,000

Balance owed on current home

Available Equity

$550,000

Value minus mortgage

Bridge Loan Breakdown

Bridge Loan Amount (80% of equity)$440,000
Down Payment on New $1.2M Home$240,000 (20%)
New Home Mortgage$960,000
Bridge Loan Interest (6 months @ ~9%)~$19,800
Net Proceeds After Old Home Sells~$520,200

This is a simplified example for illustration purposes. Actual numbers vary based on your specific situation, lender terms, and market conditions. Contact Jim for a personalized analysis.

Honest Assessment: Pros and Cons

Bridge loans are powerful but not for everyone. Here's the straight talk.

Advantages

  • Buy before you sell, no temporary housing
  • Make non-contingent offers that sellers prefer
  • Sell your old home staged and empty for maximum price
  • Qualify for 40-50% more purchasing power
  • No monthly bridge loan payments (interest due at payoff)
  • Up to 105% LTV, potentially move with no cash out of pocket

Considerations

  • Higher interest rates than traditional mortgages (typically 8-10%)
  • Requires significant equity in your current home (typically 30%+)
  • Stable income needed to support the qualification process
  • Additional closing costs and fees
  • If your home takes longer to sell, interest costs increase
  • Not all lenders offer these programs. Jim specializes in them.

Do You Qualify?

Bridge loan qualification is different from a standard mortgage. Here are the key factors Jim looks at when reviewing your situation.

Home Equity

Generally need 30%+ equity in your current home. The more equity, the more flexibility you have.

Income and Stability

Stable income is key. Jim will run the numbers to find the program that fits your DTI.

Credit Score

Typically 680+ for bridge loan approval. Higher scores access better rates and terms.

Property Marketability

Your current home should be in good condition and in a market where it will sell.

Get a Free Qualification Review

Not sure which program fits your situation? Jim will review your equity, income, and goals for free. No obligation, no pressure. Just a straight answer.

  • Review your current home's equity position
  • Identify which of the three programs fits best
  • Run the numbers on your debt-to-income ratio
  • Give you a realistic timeline and cost estimate

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the cost of Buy Before You Sell?

Costs vary by program. The purchase bridge loan has closing costs and interest that accrues until your old home sells. The Guaranteed Backup Contract has its own fee structure. Jim will walk you through the exact costs for your scenario before you commit to anything.

What happens if my old home doesn't sell quickly?

Bridge loans are typically 6-12 months. If your home takes longer to sell, interest continues to accrue on the bridge loan. Jim will help you price and stage your home to sell fast. An empty, well-staged home typically sells faster and for more money than one occupied during showings.

How is a bridge loan different from a HELOC?

A HELOC is a revolving credit line you set up in advance. A bridge loan is a lump-sum, short-term loan specifically designed to bridge the gap between buying and selling. Bridge loans are faster to set up and don't require you to have already established a HELOC. They're also purpose-built for the buy-before-you-sell scenario.

Can I use a bridge loan if I still have a mortgage?

Yes. The bridge loan is calculated based on your available equity (home value minus your current mortgage balance). With the Guaranteed Backup Contract program, your existing mortgage can actually be excluded from the DTI calculation entirely, helping you qualify for significantly more.

How long does it take to get approved?

With Jim's team, bridge loan pre-approval typically takes a few days once documentation is in order. The cash-equivalent offer program can close in as little as 10 days. The key is having your equity clearly established and your documentation ready.

Which program is right for me?

It depends on your goals. If you want the strongest possible offer, the Cash-Equivalent Purchase Bridge is the way to go. If you need extra down payment funds, Instant Equity Access is the right fit. If you want to maximize your loan approval amount, the Guaranteed Backup Contract is your best option. Jim will help you figure out which one fits your situation.

Ready to Explore Your Options?

Download Jim's free guide for a complete breakdown of all three programs, net sheet templates, and the full move-up buyer playbook.

Revest Homes

Helping families across the country build wealth through real estate and smart financing. Over 23 years and 9,100+ families served.

CAORFLTX

Licensee is performing acts for which a real estate license is required. Revest Homes, Inc. is licensed by the California Department of Real Estate, Broker # 02174879; Oregon NMLS 633511/2362319; Texas NMLS 633511/2362319; Florida NMLS 633511/2362319. Loan approval is not guaranteed and is subject to lender review of information. All loan approvals are conditional and all conditions must be met by borrower. Loan is only approved when lender has issued approval in writing and is subject to the Lender conditions. Specified rates may not be available for all borrowers. Rate subject to change with market conditions. Revest Homes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Mortgage Broker/Lender. The services referred to herein are not available to persons located outside the state of CA, OR, TX, or FL.

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