By Wendy Mullins, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty
Just sold: 2100 Willshire Glen, Downtown Alpharetta, GA · 5 Beds · 4 Baths
Sometimes the right house shows up before the timing does. That’s what happened to my buyers. They found their home in Downtown Alpharetta while they were still waiting to sell their home in Texas.
This is the story of how we made it work.
The Goal Was Simple
My buyers wanted to sell their home in Texas and buy in Alpharetta. We started looking about 18 months ago.
Then the timing got complicated. As the Texas market shifted, their home took longer to sell than expected. Most buyers in that spot have two options: wait and hope the right house is still available later, or buy before their current home sells and carry two mortgages. Neither felt right for this family.
Then We Found the Right Home
When we walked into 2100 Willshire Glen, we knew it was the one. Five bedrooms, four baths, and a location in Downtown Alpharetta that checked every box.
The seller was willing to get creative. Together, we agreed on a plan:
- Lease the home to my buyers, so they could move in right away.
- Complete the renovations they wanted, before the sale was final.
- Close once their Texas home sold, so they wouldn’t be paying for two homes at once.
Putting the Pieces Together
A plan like this only works when every detail is in writing. With the help of a real estate attorney, we put three agreements in place:
• A lease agreement covering my buyers’ time as renters
• A purchase contract setting the terms of the eventual sale
• Detailed improvement specifications spelling out exactly what work the seller would complete
The seller completed the agreed-upon work while my buyers were renting and already living in the home. By the time their Texas home sold, they weren’t moving into a new house. They were closing on the home they already lived in.
Welcome Home
Eighteen months, two states and a lot of moving pieces later, they’re officially home.
Congratulations to my buyers, who traded Texas skies for Georgia pines.
What This Means If You’re Relocating
If you’re moving to the Alpharetta area and your current home hasn’t sold yet, you may have more options than you think. Not every seller will agree to a lease-to-purchase arrangement, and not every situation calls for one. When the right home and the right seller come together, a creative structure can remove the pressure of perfect timing.
Thinking of relocating from Texas to Georgia? We’d love to have a conversation.
Wendy Mullins
Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty
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