Should you sell your Lower Mainland home before moving to Interlakes or 100 Mile House?
If you’re a couple living in the Lower Mainland and thinking about relocating to Interlakes or 100 Mile House, this question tends to sit quietly in the background — sometimes for months:
“Should we sell our home first… or try to buy before we sell?”
It’s not just a financial question.
It’s an emotional one.
Most of the people I work with are established couples who’ve built significant equity over decades. They’ve worked hard, made smart decisions, and now they’re planning a lifestyle move — not a risky gamble. What they’re really trying to avoid is this feeling:
“We’ve worked too hard to screw this up now.”
The truth is, there isn’t one right answer — but there is a right approach for you. Let’s walk through how to think about this decision clearly, without pressure or guesswork.
Why this decision feels so stressful
On paper, it seems like a simple choice:
Sell first
Or buy first
But emotionally, it’s much heavier.
Most couples worry about:
Selling too low and leaving money on the table
Being stuck without a place to live
Buying the wrong rural property in a rush
Managing two properties at once
Stressing their relationship during the transition
Often, one partner is ready to move immediately, while the other wants more certainty. That tension alone can stall the entire plan.
Option 1: Selling your Lower Mainland home first
For many relocating couples, selling first provides clarity and peace of mind.
Why selling first often feels safer
You know exactly what budget you’re working with
You’re not carrying two properties at once
You reduce financial pressure
You avoid rushing into a rural purchase
Many couples think:
“Once the house was sold, everything felt calmer.”
That emotional relief is not insignificant. And that is what moving to the Cariboo is all about, peace and calm.
The trade-offs of selling first
Of course, there are downsides:
You may need temporary housing
You will have to store your stuff
You might feel pressure to “find something”
Timing the market can feel stressful
Winter may come looming
But with planning, these challenges are usually manageable — and often preferable to feeling rushed into the wrong property. A great guide will help smooth out this process.
Option 2: Buying before you sell
Some couples prefer to buy first, especially if:
They’ve found a property that truly fits
They’re comfortable carrying two homes short-term
Their Lower Mainland home is highly marketable
They are ready to go
This approach can work — but only when it’s done intentionally.
Where buying first can go wrong
Problems tend to arise when buyers:
Assume their city home will sell quickly at any price
Underestimate how long rural transactions can take
Feel forced to accept less on their sale due to timing pressure
This is where people later say:
“We didn’t think it would feel this stressful.”
Why rural property timing is different
One of the biggest mistakes people make is treating rural property like city real estate.
Rural properties:
Can take longer to find
Require more due diligence
Often involve wells, septic, access, and zoning considerations
Are more emotional purchases
Winter is a bigger factor
Rushing this process increases the risk of regret — something your ideal clients are deeply trying to avoid.
A third option many couples overlook: the phased approach
Many successful relocations follow a phased transition, rather than an all-or-nothing move.
This might look like:
Selling first, then renting short-term
Spending time in the area before buying
Using the transition period to learn what actually matters day-to-day
This approach often reduces stress, relationship tension, and financial pressure.
How to decide what’s right for you
The best decision depends on:
Your comfort with uncertainty
Your financial flexibility
Your tolerance for temporary inconvenience
How important timing vs. certainty is to you
There is no “right” answer — only the right fit.
The couples who feel best afterward usually say:
“We felt guided, not pushed.”
Common myths that create unnecessary pressure
“We have to time the market perfectly”
In reality, clarity and confidence matter more than perfect timing.
“Everyone else is buying before they sell”
They aren’t — many are quietly selling first.
“If we don’t act now, we’ll miss out”
Good rural properties come and go. Rushing usually causes more harm than waiting. The best properties sell quickly in any market.
Client-style perspective: avoiding the panic spiral
Many couples come into this decision feeling overwhelmed, scrolling listings late at night, and having the same conversations over and over.
The turning point usually comes when someone says:
“Let’s slow this down and make a plan.”
That plan — not the market — is what restores confidence.
Questions to ask yourselves before deciding
How would we feel carrying two properties?
Are we comfortable renting short-term?
How much pressure do we feel to “get this done”?
What would cause more regret: waiting, or rushing?
Honest answers here often make the decision clearer.
Final thoughts: this should feel thoughtful, not frantic
This move isn’t about chasing a trend.
It’s about protecting the life you’ve built and transitioning into the next chapter with confidence.
Whether you sell first or buy first, the most important thing is that:
You feel informed
You feel supported
You don’t feel rushed
You trust the process
If you’re weighing this decision and want to talk it through calmly — without pressure or sales tactics — I’m always happy to help you think it through. Call any time.
Amanda Oldfield
Amanda Oldfield Realtor – Exp Realty
96 Hwy 97, 100 Mile House, BC
250-318-5202
