How we help
Upsizing in Markham
Two transactions, one timeline and a gap that has to be financed.
The problem
Upsizing means selling and buying at the same time in the same market. Sell first and you may be renting. Buy first and you may be carrying two properties. Most of the stress in an upsizing move comes from that gap rather than from either transaction on its own.
Our approach
How we handle it
- Step 01
Settle the finance question before you look
Talk to your lender about bridge financing and what you can carry if the sale is slower than planned. Everything else in an upsizing move depends on the answer and it is the one thing you cannot improvise later.
- Step 02
Price your current property honestly
People overestimate what they will net and underestimate what the next house costs. We give you a realistic sale range and the costs that come out of it, so your budget for the purchase is a real number.
- Step 03
Choose the sequence deliberately
In a market with limited supply, buying first can be the right call. In a slower market it is a serious risk. We recommend the sequence that matches conditions at the time, not the one that suits us.
- Step 04
Coordinate the closings
Same day closings are possible and they are tighter than people expect. We work with your lawyer and your lender to build in enough room that a delay on one side does not become a crisis on the other.
What we do differently
We start with the lender, not with listings. An upsizing plan built without knowing what you can carry is not a plan. One conversation with your lender at the beginning prevents the two worst outcomes in this move.
We say when a condition will not fly. A condition on the sale of your home protects you and in a competitive offer it will usually lose you the house. You deserve to know which situation you are in before you write the offer, not after you lose it.
We keep both transactions in one head. When the sale and the purchase are handled by two people who do not talk to each other, the closing dates are where it shows. We run both sides so the dates are built together from the start.
The common Markham path
Out of a condo or townhome in Downtown Markham, Milliken Mills or Greensborough and into a detached house in Wismer, Berczy Village or Cornell. That route runs often enough that we can tell you fairly precisely what the gap looks like at current prices once we know your numbers.
Upsizing questions
Should I sell before I buy?
It depends on market conditions and on what you can carry financially. We will lay out both paths with your actual numbers rather than giving you a rule.
What is bridge financing?
A short term loan that covers the gap when your purchase closes before your sale. Your lender sets the terms and the cost. Ask about it early, because approval is not automatic.
How much does moving up actually cost beyond the price difference?
Land transfer tax, legal fees, the real estate commission on the sale, moving costs and whatever the new house needs in the first year. We give you that list in writing at the start.
Can I make my purchase conditional on selling my home?
Sometimes and it depends on how competitive the property is. In a multiple offer situation a condition on sale is usually fatal. We will tell you plainly when it is realistic and when it is not.
Which Markham neighbourhoods do people upsize into?
Most often Wismer, Berczy Village, Cornell and Greensborough. Buyers with a larger budget usually look at Angus Glen or the mature parts of Unionville.
Not advice. This page is general information about how we work. It is not legal, tax, mortgage or investment advice. Speak to a qualified professional about your own circumstances before acting.
Also relevant
Other situations we handle
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Luxury
Thin comparables, a small buyer pool and no room for a pricing mistake.
-
Relocation
Choosing a neighbourhood you have never lived in, usually on a deadline.
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Downsizing
Forty years of a house and a sequence that has to work in the right order.
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First-Time Buyers
A real budget, a realistic neighbourhood list and no surprises at closing.
Book a 30-minute conversation
No pitch and no pressure. Tell us the situation and we will tell you plainly whether we are the right people for it.