Double-Payment Reserve Calculator
Before you plan to carry both homes "for just a few weeks," see the number in full. Overlaps run long.
Move-Up and Timing
What this article helps you decide
> Buying before you sell can mean carrying two homes. Manageable - if you've sized the reserve honestly and assumed the overlap runs longer than hoped.
Work through the decision in order
What to check
Input 1 - Combined monthly housing costs (both mortgages + taxes + insurance + utilities). Input 2 - Overlap months (be conservative).
Article worksheet · browser private
Double-Payment Reserve Calculator
Use the worksheet without a form. Keep your notes in this browser, then bring the live facts into a Real Estate Review if the decision still matters.
Questions about Double-Payment Reserve Calculator
Clear answers first. If one question changes the deal, bring it into the review before you move money.
Q1Why size a double-payment reserve before buying first?+
Because buying before you sell can mean carrying two homes, and it's only manageable if you've sized the reserve honestly. The plans that go wrong assume the sale closes on schedule — it often doesn't.
Q2What goes into the combined monthly number?+
Both mortgages plus taxes, insurance, and utilities on each. It's the full carrying cost of two homes, not just two mortgage payments — the extras add up fast at this price tier.
Q3How many overlap months should I plan for?+
Be conservative, then add one. Overlaps run longer than hoped, so plan for more months than your best case and re-run the number — the extra month is the cushion that saves the plan.
Q4Is this reserve separate from my down payment?+
Yes, entirely. The overlap reserve sits on top of your down payment and cash-to-close. Buyers get squeezed when they count the same dollars twice — keep the reserve walled off.
Q5What if the number is bigger than I can comfortably carry?+
Then choose a safer sequence — sell-first or a leaseback — rather than betting on a fast sale. The point of the number is to tell you honestly whether buy-first is affordable before you commit.
Q6How do I confirm I can actually carry it?+
Stress-test the reserve with an extra overlap month against your liquid cash. Confirming that (or choosing a safer path) is part of a Real Estate Review.
Apply the article to the live decision.
Let's confirm you can carry the overlap comfortably (or choose a safer sequence) in a Real Estate Review.
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