A Mound couple downsized after 29 years by buying a one-level townhome first, selling their longtime home above asking after one weekend, and using a 45-day rent-back so they only moved once.
The Move at a Glance
| Sellers | Couple in their Mound home for 29 years |
|---|---|
| Bought | 2 bed plus den detached townhome, $542,000 |
| Sold | Listed $749,000, sold $765,000 after first weekend |
| Bridge | 45-day seller rent-back |
| Outcome | One organized move, still in Mound |
Staying in Mound with fewer stairs
The couple wanted one level and less yard work, without leaving friends, doctors, Surfside Park or the Dakota Rail Trail. One-level inventory in Mound is thin, so when a detached townhome appeared, they needed to act on a six-week close.
Preparing the house before the offer
CJ Norman had the longtime home sorted, repaired and staged before the couple wrote their purchase offer, and short-term financing against their equity let them buy without a sale contingency. The home listed at $749,000 and accepted $765,000 after the first weekend. The guide to buying and selling at the same time covers these bridge options.
How the rent-back worked
CJ Norman negotiated a 45-day rent-back with a written daily rate, deposit, utility and insurance terms and a firm move-out date. Good Move Downsizing helped sort belongings and run move day, and the couple closed on the new home first and the old home three weeks later.
What Other Buyers and Sellers Can Take From It
- Prepare the current home before writing an offer on the next one.
- Put every rent-back cost and responsibility in writing.
- Plan financing, belongings, repairs and moving together.
More on this kind of move lives on the Homeowners Downsizing page, in client reviews, and in CJ Norman's own account of this case study. See every story in Client Stories.