You've found the next home. The problem is the one you're living in. Your down payment is tied up in it, and the thought of carrying two mortgages keeps you up at night. So you ask the question almost every move-up buyer asks: can I make my offer subject to the sale of my current home?
In Edmonton, the answer is yes. The standard AREA Residential Purchase Contract includes a "Sale of Buyer's Property" condition built for exactly this situation. But writing an offer subject to sale of buyers home is a trade-off. It protects you from owning two houses, and it makes your offer weaker in the seller's eyes. How much weaker depends on the market, the seller's timeline and how ready your own home is to sell.
This guide explains how the condition works, what sellers usually ask for in return, and how to make your offer as strong as it can be. For the full move-up picture, start with our complete guide to buying real estate.
Quick answer
An offer subject to sale of buyer's home means you only have to complete the purchase if your current home sells by a set Condition Day. In Alberta it's handled through the AREA contract's Sale of Buyer's Property condition and schedule. Sellers often accept it with an escape clause that lets them keep marketing and give you a short window to remove the condition if another offer arrives.
How a Sale of Buyer's Property Condition Works
In the AREA Residential Purchase Contract used across Alberta, the buyer's conditions include a specific option: "This contract is subject to the sale of the buyer's property" before a set time on a set Condition Day, on the terms in the Sale of Buyer's Property Schedule.
Here's what that means in practice:
• You make an offer on the new home, with the sale condition and a Condition Day, often several weeks out.
• If your current home sells (and that sale goes firm) before the Condition Day, you give written notice that the condition is satisfied.
• If it doesn't sell in time, and you don't waive the condition, the contract ends and your deposit is returned under the deposit terms.
The schedule attached to the contract sets out the details, which typically include where your home is listed and how the seller can respond if another buyer comes along.
The Escape Clause: What Sellers Usually Ask For
Most sellers won't take their home off the market for a month on the hope your house sells. The common compromise is an escape clause, sometimes called a time clause. It works like this:
• The seller accepts your conditional offer but keeps marketing the home.
• If they receive another acceptable offer, they give you written notice.
• You then have a short window, often 24 to 72 hours, to remove your sale condition (and usually your other conditions) or the contract ends and the seller moves on.
Know your plan before notice arrives
If an escape notice lands on a Friday night, you won't have time to arrange financing from scratch. Talk to your lender now about bridge financing or what it would take to firm up without your sale, so you can act inside the window.
Pros and Cons of an Offer Subject to Sale of Buyer's Home
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
Avoids owning two homes at once |
Weaker offer compared with unconditional buyers |
|
Protects your down payment and budget |
Sellers may want full price or close to it |
|
Lets you shop with confidence |
Escape clause can force a fast decision |
|
Keeps one moving date in reach |
Rarely accepted in multiple-offer situations |
|
Lower financial stress |
Your home may need to be priced to sell quickly |
When Sellers Accept Subject to Sale of Buyer's Home Offers
Your odds improve when:
• The market is balanced or favours buyers. Edmonton had roughly 3,769 new listings in August 2026, up 3.3% from a year earlier, according to CREA's Edmonton board statistics. More inventory generally means more sellers willing to consider conditional offers.
• Your home is already listed and priced realistically, ideally with showings booked.
• Your home is likely to sell quickly, such as a well-priced starter home in a popular area.
• The seller's home has been on the market a while or the seller has a flexible possession date.
• You offer a strong price and deposit, so the condition is the only real weakness.
In a hot spring market with multiple offers, a sale condition is often a non-starter. In a quieter fall or winter market, it can be very workable.
How to Make Your Offer Stronger
• List first. An offer subject to sale of buyers home is far more convincing when your home is already on MLS, professionally photographed and priced right.
• Get pre-approved for the new home so financing isn't another uncertain condition.
• Shorten the Condition Day to something realistic, often 30 to 45 days depending on your home and the season.
• Increase the deposit to show commitment.
• Accept an escape clause with a reasonable notice period instead of fighting it.
• Be flexible on possession so the seller isn't inconvenienced by your timeline.
Alternatives to a Sale Condition
Sell first, then buy
You know exactly what you have to spend and you can make firm offers. The risk is needing temporary housing if you can't find the right home in time. Negotiating a longer possession on your sale helps.
Buy first with bridge financing
If your current home sells firm before you close on the new one, many lenders offer short-term bridge financing to cover the down payment gap between the two closing dates. It's not available if your home hasn't sold yet. Our guide to buying before selling in Edmonton walks through the math and the risks.
Buy first and carry both
Some buyers qualify to carry two mortgages for a period. It gives you the strongest offer, but you need the income, the equity and the stomach for it if your home takes longer to sell than expected.
Timing Your Sale and Purchase
The sweet spot is having your sale and purchase close on the same day, or your sale close a day or two before your purchase. Your lawyer coordinates the funds. If you're trying to judge how long your home might take to sell, see our breakdown of how long it takes to sell a house in Edmonton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does subject to sale of buyer's home mean?
It means the buyer only has to complete the purchase if they sell their current home by a set Condition Day. If it doesn't sell and the buyer doesn't waive the condition, the contract ends.
Is a sale of buyer's property condition common in Edmonton?
It's part of the standard AREA contract and is used regularly, especially in balanced or slower markets. It's much less likely to be accepted in multiple-offer situations.
What is an escape clause?
It lets the seller keep marketing the home after accepting your conditional offer. If another offer arrives, you get a short window to remove your conditions or the deal ends.
How long should the condition period be?
Commonly 30 to 45 days, but it depends on your home, the season and how quickly similar homes are selling. Shorter periods are more attractive to sellers.
Do I get my deposit back if my home doesn't sell?
If the condition isn't satisfied or waived by the Condition Day, the contract ends and the deposit is returned to you under the contract's deposit terms.
Should my home be listed before I make the offer?
Ideally, yes. Sellers take a subject to sale of buyers home offer much more seriously when your home is already listed and priced to sell.
Can I use bridge financing instead?
Bridge financing works once your home has sold firm and you're covering the gap between closing dates. It doesn't help if your home hasn't sold yet.
Will I have to pay more if my offer is subject to sale?
Often, yes. Sellers may expect a stronger price or terms in exchange for the added uncertainty.
Line Up Your Sale Before You Fall for the Next House
The buyers who succeed with a sale condition prepare their own home first. Get it listed, priced and showing well, talk to your lender about backup options, and you'll walk into negotiations with a plan instead of a hope.