Buy Now, Sell Later: Why Central Ohio Homeowners Have More Leverage Than They Think

Everybody in Columbus keeps asking the same question:
“How do I make an offer to buy and NOT make it home sale contingent?”

Twelve months ago, the answer for most people was: “List first or you’re not getting an offer accepted.”
Today? The data says you’ve actually got room to breathe.

Let’s walk through what’s changed in the market, what “buy now, sell later” really means, and why it’s getting a lot easier in places like Powell, Dublin, and New Albany.

The days-on-market story (Columbus → suburbs)

Homes are simply sitting longer than they were last year. That matters for both sides of this move-up equation.

Central Ohio / Columbus metro:

• Median days on market is about 30 days now, up from 25 days a year ago. That’s five extra days of breathing room for buyers, and proof sellers aren’t getting swarmed on Day One anymore. Columbus Team Real Estate

Dublin, OH:

• Homes in Dublin are selling in about 41 days on average now, vs ~39 days last year. Demand is still strong, but buyers aren’t sprinting and throwing cash at anything with a roof. Redfin

Powell, OH (43065):

• Average time on market is about 46 days now vs 41 days last year. Powell buyers are taking their time and negotiating. Sellers aren’t getting the instant “10 showings, 4 offers” chaos from 2023. Redfin
  • (Note: Some data sources show sub-2-week pendings in certain price bands, but the overall average for closed sales is trending longer year-over-year.) Zillow+1

New Albany, OH:

• This is the big one. New Albany is showing a serious slowdown in velocity at the higher price points: homes are taking around 64 days to sell now, compared to 39 days last year. That’s almost an extra month on market. Redfin
  • Median sale price in September was about $599K, which is down sharply year-over-year, and closed sales volume dipped. Translation: even high-end sellers are having to work for it. Redfin

If you visualize that, it looks like this:

• Columbus / Central Ohio: 30 days now → 25 days last year
• Dublin: 41 days now → 39 days last year
• Powell: 46 days now → 41 days last year
• New Albany: 64 days now → 39 days last year

This is the first domino.

When days on market stretches, sellers are more open to terms, not just price. And that’s where Buy Now, Sell Later comes in.

What “Buy Now, Sell Later” actually means

Buy Now, Sell Later is exactly what it sounds like:
You go secure the next house you actually want to live in — in Dublin, Powell, New Albany, wherever — and you list/sell your current place after you’re already under contract (or even moved).

This used to be laughed at by listing agents. A year or two ago, if your offer was “contingent on selling my current home,” you were dead on arrival unless you were bringing silly money.

But in a market where properties are sitting 30, 40, even 60+ days? That same conversation is suddenly normal.

Here’s why it works better right now:

1. Sellers care about certainty, not just speed.
   Last year: they had 8 offers. This year: they might have 1 good offer, and that offer is yours.
   If we can show them you’re financially approved to buy, they’ll consider timelines that would've been a non-starter in 2023.
2. You’re not forced into panic-listing your current home.
   When you have to sell first, you end up rushing photos, rushing minor repairs, rushing pricing, and sometimes leaving money on the table just to get a fast contract.
   Buy Now, Sell Later means you list after you’ve already locked in your next address — and you can prep your current home to pull max value.
3. You avoid the “temporary housing shuffle.”
   Nobody wants to move into an Airbnb with two kids, two dogs, and whatever’s in your garage.
   Buying first lets you move once. One set of movers. One truck. One set of keys.

Why longer days on market = leverage for move-up buyers

Let’s connect the dots to the data:

• In New Albany, a house staying on the market ~64 days means the seller already knows it’s not going in week one. They’re more willing to entertain “We’ll close on X date, and here’s how we’re handling our current home” if the rest of your terms are strong. Redfin
• In Powell, average market time moving from ~41 days to ~46 days tells you: the emotional, instant-bid energy has cooled off. You can negotiate inspections, possession timelines, rent-backs, even credits to offset carrying costs while you prep your old home for sale. Redfin
• Even broad Central Ohio, going from 25 to 30 days median, shows buyers finally have time to think instead of react. That’s a psychological shift that matters in negotiation. Columbus Team Real Estate

When buyers have time, two powerful things start happening:

1. You can write cleaner offers without having to toss in escalation clauses and appraisal-gap guarantees just to get noticed.
2. You can ask for terms instead of only price. I have actually seen a lot of seller credits for closing costs recently!

That’s the whole game.

“But won’t I get stuck with two homes?”

This is the number-one fear, and it’s fair.

Here’s the truth in plain English:

• Could you technically own two homes for a short window? Yes.
• Do we plan around that, model that, and make sure you’re not blind-walking into it? Absolutely.
• Are you locked into keeping them both long-term? No. That’s not the plan.

Remember: properties in Central Ohio are still selling. This is not a freeze. We’re not in a “no buyer” market — we’re in a “buyers now have options” market.

Columbus-area listings are still getting very close to list price, just with slightly more negotiation and slightly more days online. Median sale price in Central Ohio is still in the low-to-mid $300s, and sellers were still getting ~96.5%–99% of list depending on submarket. Columbus Team Real Estate+2Redfin+2

So it’s not like you’re listing into a black hole. You’re just not fire-selling on day one.

Also, in certain cases, you can negotiate use and occupancy / rent-back after closing on the new home. That gives you a little overlap time to stage, clean, and show your current property properly instead of tossing it on the MLS with laundry baskets in the hallway.

Who benefits most from Buy Now, Sell Later in this market?

1. Families who have outgrown their current place

If your current home is bursting and you’re trying to get into a bigger home in Dublin or a newer build in New Albany, extra days on market in those higher-price neighborhoods work in your favor. Sellers at that price point are already adjusting.

2. Sellers in “still desirable but not instant” areas

Powell is a great example. It’s incredibly attractive, but DOM creeping from ~41 to ~46 days tells you: you don’t have to accept the first lowball that walks in the door. You have time to prep, paint, landscape, and present your current home like a product (because that’s what wins). Redfin

3. People who want to avoid “list first and pray” stress

You shouldn’t have to list your current home on Friday, show it all weekend, and basically live out of your car for three days just to be competitive. That was 2021-2023 behavior. Central Ohio 2025 is different.

The takeaway for Columbus sellers who also need to buy

Central Ohio is finally behaving like a market where normal people with normal lives can move without lighting themselves on fire.

Longer days on market =
more time to shop,
more flexibility in terms,
more ability to buy first,
and less panic about “what if my house doesn’t sell.”

“Buy Now, Sell Later” is not some investor-only trick. It’s exactly how regular families in Columbus, Powell, Dublin, and New Albany can level up without having to go homeless in between.

If you’re even thinking about making that move before spring, this is the window to build your plan. Reach out and we will go over all of the info that you need to see how best we can handle this for you.

Thinking about buying before you sell? Let’s make a plan.
→ Visit PreapprovalWithTom.com