How We Helped a Chandler Couple Sell Their Big House and Buy a Smaller One in Laveen the Same Afternoon
Nathan and Niko owned a large home at 2141 E Remington Pl in Chandler 85286 and wanted something smaller and newer. We sold it for $585,000 to an FHA buyer, settled a $25,000 repair request by paying the buyer's contractor at closing, and used the proceeds to buy a $395,000 home in Laveen with cash. Both deals closed on March 30, 2026.
Why did Nathan and Niko want to leave their Chandler home?
They wanted out of a house that had gotten too big. Nathan and Niko bought 2141 E Remington Pl in Chandler 85286 in 2024, and I helped them buy it. Since then, family had moved in with them and they were supporting everyone under one roof. Now they wanted a smaller place, a little newer, just for the two of them. They also wanted to free up cash by selling high and buying lower. Nathan put it simply: "We just kind of just wanna get out of the big house."
How do you sell one home and buy another with cash at the same time?
You make the purchase contingent on the sale, and you line up the dates so both deals land together. We accepted an offer on the Chandler home on February 18, 2026, with closing set for March 30. Their offer on the Laveen home was cash, so there was no loan to line up. The money was going to come from the Remington sale. The contract included a contingency addendum: the Chandler sale had to close by March 30, or they had three days to waive the contingency. Because the purchase depended on the sale, their earnest money stayed protected.
How did they shop for a home in Laveen?
They shopped from a distance, with a showing service doing the door-opening. Laveen is on the west side of the valley, a long drive from Chandler. I hired Showami agents to open the doors for showings. Showami is a service where you hire a local agent for the showing and nothing else. I never needed to be at every door. I wrote the offers, handled strategy and negotiation, and walked Nathan and Niko through escrow. If they had questions or wanted my eyes on a home, we could do that after the first pass. Laveen's prices fit what they wanted to spend. They bought 5831 W Pedro Ln for $395,000, which was $190,000 less than the Chandler sale price.
What happened when the Chandler buyer asked for repairs?
The buyer's inspection turned up a long list, and the number was big. The buyer's repair request, priced at full replacement, came to about $35,000. It covered the roof, both HVAC systems, and smaller items. The roof was leaking and near the end of its life, so that was the most legitimate request. The HVAC looked more like a repair than a replacement. The home had been on the market 50 days with one offer and no backups, and we had already given 2% in seller concessions. I did not want to overcorrect just to get the deal done. I opened at $18,000 and told Nathan and Niko where I expected it to land: the low to mid $20,000s. We settled at $25,000.
Why pay a contractor at closing instead of cutting the price?
A price cut changes the number on paper but does not fix the roof. It can also reopen appraisal risk, and we had already reached the limit of what we could give as a credit with an FHA buyer. So the BINSR gave the buyer a contractor of choice, and title paid that contractor $25,000 directly out of the sellers' proceeds at closing. Nathan and Niko paid nothing up front. It came out of their profit when the sale closed. Nathan told me he would rather do it that way so everything got fixed and everyone was happy.
The buyer then wanted a roofer, an AC technician, a pool technician, and a general contractor to bid on the home. I asked the buyer's agent how the total would stay inside the $25,000 before I approved more access. That kept the number from creeping.
How did closing day go?
It went the way it should: no hiccups. WFG Title closed and recorded the Remington sale on March 30, and the Pedro Ln purchase closed the same afternoon. Nathan and Niko sold their big house and owned their new one before the day was over.
What would I tell someone in the same situation?
It is absolutely possible. This is downsizing at its core, and it is a lot of my business. People downsize because the kids' rooms are empty, they are tired of stairs, or they want a different part of town. They are usually at a stage where this is not their first move. They are in a solid financial place and they trust their agent to guide them. When the plan is clear and the dates are built right, it usually goes smoothly.
If you are thinking about selling, here is how your home gets sold. You can also read more closing stories or see my Reviews & Results.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell a house and buy a cash home on the same day?
Yes. Make the purchase contingent on your sale and set the dates so both close together. In this deal the Laveen purchase was cash, so there was no loan to wait on. The money came straight from the Chandler sale.
What if the first home does not close in time?
That is what the contingency is for. In this deal, the Chandler sale had to close by March 30, or the buyers had three days to waive the contingency. With the contingency in place, their earnest money stayed protected.
Is it better to cut the price or pay for repairs at closing?
It depends on the repair and the loan. A price cut does not fix anything and can create appraisal trouble. Here, the roof was leaking, so we had the title company pay the buyer's contractor $25,000 from the sellers' proceeds at closing.
Do I need to see the new home in person before I buy?
Not always. I used Showami agents to open the doors, then handled strategy, offers, and negotiation myself. If you want my eyes on a home, we do that after the first pass.
Ben Graham, luxury real estate advisor serving South Tempe and South Chandler. REALTOR since 2011 with more than 500 transactions closed, including downsizing sellers who sell one home and buy another in the same week.
