A Better Way for Homeowners to Buy First and Then Sell

For years, homeowners have followed the same stressful formula: sell first, then buy. The logic was simple enough—free up cash before committing to the next property—but the reality was far more complicated. Families could not get a new mortgage approved given their current mortgage in place, and cash for the down payment was tricky since it was already tied up in their current home. Even if they figured this part out, they were left scrambling for temporary housing, storing furniture between moves, and making rushed choices about where to live next. Catapult Homes is rewriting that playbook, offering a model—currently available in Silicon Valley, the greater Bay Area, and select markets in Southern California—that allows people to buy their new home first and sell later, on their own schedule.

At the center of this approach is flexibility. By advancing a portion of the home’s overall value, Catapult makes it possible to make non-contingent offers and secure a new property before listing the current one. Catapult’s funds are not a loan. Rather, they wire their clients cash to use to buy the new home first.

“Not only is our solution best in class for homeowners, but in almost all cases, we are the lowest cost. The majority of our clients in fact pay no fees at all for our capital.”

– Ankur Luthra, the CEO of Catapult. 

This removes the pressure of back-to-back closings and gives sellers time to prepare their homes properly, which can often translate into stronger offers and better returns.

The most immediate benefit is convenience. Instead of packing twice and living in short-term rentals, families can move directly from one house to the next. Children can settle into new schools more smoothly, work commutes remain uninterrupted, and the costly headache of storage units and temporary housing is avoided.

There’s also a psychological lift. Knowing a new home is already secured reduces the biggest worry of moving: being left without a place to live. That certainty allows families to make clearer decisions about both buying and selling. And in competitive markets, being able to make an offer that isn’t contingent on selling an existing property can give buyers an edge—though, as always, outcomes still depend on market conditions and other factors.

Financially, the approach provides breathing room. Sellers have time to vacate, prepare their homes properly with updates and staging, and have a true open market sale, all of which can often translate into stronger offers and better returns. In addition, sellers aren’t forced to take the first decent offer that comes along.

While Catapult charges fees only after the current home sells—and in many cases waives them entirely, having sent hundreds of millions of dollars to clients over the years for zero cost to the client.

Catapult’s model reflects the way many homeowners increasingly expect real estate to work—streamlined, flexible, and customer-focused. Just as other industries have adapted to modern demands, this approach moves real estate beyond its rigid, old-fashioned structures. Catapult’s clients, ranging in areas like Los Altos, Sunnyvale, San Mateo, Hillsborough, Piedmont, Alamo, Mill Valley, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and more, have been delighted and their glowing reviews reflect that.

As more people discover the benefits of buying first and selling next, it’s easy to imagine this model spreading beyond the regions where it’s currently available. For now, it represents a shift in how homeowners can navigate one of life’s biggest transitions: not with panic and compromise, but with choice, stability, and a sense of control, all for a low or even zero fee.