Can I Buy in Woodland Hills Before My Current Home Sells?

Jonathan Lopez, Jim Sandoval Group | Woodland Hills Realtor | CA DRE #02282844 · Updated October 2026

If you are relocating to Woodland Hills and still own a home elsewhere, the order of the move matters. Buying first and selling second can work, but it changes your costs and your loan approval.

The Main Options

Redfin's guide to buying and selling at the same time (published March 19, 2026) lists six approaches. A home sale contingency lets you back out of the purchase if your current home does not sell. A bridge loan is short-term money to cover the down payment until your home closes, though qualifying can be difficult. A HELOC lets you borrow against your current home's equity if you qualify. A rent-back lets you rent your old home from the new owners after closing. An extended closing buys extra time. Or you can use savings. The article does not give rates or fees.

What Each Route Costs

Lower's guide (updated August 19, 2026) says a bridge loan adds interest, fees, and another obligation during the transition, and that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have specific approval requirements. A HELOC is revolving credit secured by your current home, with the amount depending on value, existing debt, and lender requirements, and it adds a payment that affects new mortgage qualification. A sale contingency carries no separate borrowing cost, but sellers may prefer non-contingent offers and the contract needs specific timeline language. A cash-out refinance brings its own closing costs on a home you plan to sell. For the seller's view of contingencies, see should I accept an offer from a buyer who has to sell first.

How Lenders Count Two Homes

Lower explains that when your current primary residence is pending sale but will not close before the new purchase closes, lenders typically count both the current home's full monthly housing payment and the new home's payment in your debt-to-income ratio. Fannie Mae makes an exception when the lender has an executed sales contract and financing contingencies have been cleared. Your own lender decides how this applies to you.

Woodland Hills Timing

Movoto's Woodland Hills page (updated October 5, 2026) shows 428 active listings, 76 price-reduced, and 50 days on market compared with 44 a year earlier. Lower's advice is to plan for the sale taking longer than expected, so the strategy should still work if you carry both homes past your ideal timeline. If you want to compare staying in a rental first, see whether to rent first or buy when relocating, and for out-of-area logistics, see closing remotely if you are relocating.

How to Decide

Start with a written number for how long you could carry both homes. Get a lender's read on qualification with both payments before you write an offer. Then compare the cost of each route against simply renting first. A local agent can help match the route to the home you are targeting.

This is general information, not financial or lending advice. Loan terms and qualification vary by lender. Talk with a licensed mortgage professional about your situation.

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