Priced right, in neighbourhoods move up buyers love, and ready to show you what's possible.
Ready to Upsize? · Calgary, Alberta
Your Bigger Home Is Within Reach
Moving up isn't just about finding a larger house. It's about timing the sale of your current home, understanding your real budget, and coordinating two transactions so they happen as one. That's where it gets complicated — and that's exactly where I help.
Calgary Real Estate · CIR Realty
Educate. Empower. Excel.
You're Not Alone in Asking
The Questions Every Move-Up Family Asks
“Can we even afford to move up?”
Your current home's equity is your down payment. Add what you owe to what it'll realistically sell for, and the difference is your pool. From there I help you build a real budget — not just the purchase price, but taxes, insurance, and the upkeep a bigger home brings.
“Do we buy first or sell first?”
This is the move-up dilemma, and there's no one-size answer — it depends on your market, your timeline, and your comfort with risk. Sell first and you might have a gap; buy first and you may carry two homes briefly. I help you pick the right path, then coordinate the dates.
“How do we avoid owning two homes — or none?”
By lining up your possession dates, and using bridge financing when the timing's tight. It lets you close on the new home before the old one's sale completes, so you move once. We run the numbers together and decide if you need it.
“Is now the right time, or should we wait?”
The right time isn't only about interest rates. It's about your life, your equity, and whether waiting costs you more than moving does. Some families should wait; others shouldn't. We look at your situation — not just the headlines.
Why Move-Up Families Work With Me
Moving up isn't one deal. It's two — handled as one.
Stuart Bartwicki · CIR Realty
The difference is coordination: I see your sale and your purchase as one unified plan, not two separate transactions.
Move-up families are stressed about process, timing, and money. You don't just need an agent — you need someone who can walk you through the equity math, explain why we're buying or selling in a certain order, and keep both deals on track so nothing falls apart. As a former teacher, explaining the "why" before the "what" is just how I work.
Nearly a decade of guiding Calgary families through this exact scenario has taught me the gaps that hurt people: missing the possession-date window, underpricing the sale, overlooking bridge financing. Those gaps disappear when one person manages both sides. You move once, not twice. You know your budget before you look at homes. And you close on time.
Helping Calgary families since 2018 — nearly a decade
Former teacher — I explain the why, not just the what
One coordinated plan for your sale and your purchase
The Move-Up Blueprint
How I Help Move-Up Families Succeed
Here's exactly how I guide move-up families — from equity check to moving day, with no double moves and no surprises.
01
Equity & Affordability Reality Check
What does your current home actually unlock? I assess its real sale value, subtract what you owe, and we build your true budget — income, debts, and the price range that fits.
02
Buy-First or Sell-First Strategy
We decide together which path fits your timeline and risk tolerance, then build a possession-date plan so both closings line up.
03
Sell Your Current Home for Top Dollar
Your sale funds the move. We price it right, prepare it to show well, and market it widely — maximizing the equity that becomes your next down payment.
04
Find the Right Move-Up Home
More space, yes — but also the right neighbourhood and long-term value. We focus on homes that'll hold their worth for your family's next chapter.
05
Bridge Financing & Possession Coordination
If timing's tight, we explore bridge financing so you're never stuck in the gap — then coordinate possession dates so there's no double move.
06
Coordinated Move & Possession Day
Dates line up, the truck runs once, your old home closes, and you're in your new one on schedule — seamless instead of chaotic.
It all starts with one number: what your current home is worth.
What's Your Home Worth?Calgary Move-Up Readiness Score
Are You Actually Ready to Move Up?
Most Calgary families who want to move up don't know where they actually stand. Six questions. A readiness score. An honest answer on whether now's your time — no email required to see your result.
Take the 60-Second QuizDownload The Calgary Move-up Playbook
Free Guide
The path from "we've outgrown this place" to "we have keys to the right one" doesn't have to feel like a gamble. This free guide covers when to sell, how to leverage the equity you've built, and how to move up without overpaying on the other side — everything you need to time it right. It's free, yours to keep, and there's no obligation.
Stuart is an excellent realtor and made the process of selling and then purchasing a new home a smooth and seamless experience. We couldn't recommend him enough if you're looking for a realtor!
— Christie Oram, Move-Up Family, Calgary
Move-Up Questions · Calgary
Moving-Up in Calgary FAQs
There's no universal answer — it depends on your timeline, your confidence in your current home's sale price, and whether you can carry two mortgages briefly. In a hot neighbourhood with a quick expected sale, selling first reduces double-mortgage risk. In a slower market, buying first (sometimes with bridge financing) means you don't lose the right home while you wait. I help you weigh both for your situation.
Your equity becomes your down payment. When your current home sells, the proceeds are held by your lawyer and applied to your new home's purchase. If there's a gap between the two closings, bridge financing lets you borrow against that equity temporarily. How much you can borrow depends on your income, debts, and the equity involved — confirm exact figures with your mortgage broker.
Bridge financing is a short-term loan that "bridges" the gap between buying your new home and the sale of your current one closing. You borrow against your current home's equity, use it to close on the new home, then repay the bridge loan once the old home's sale completes. There's interest and fees, but it removes the double-move problem. Alberta lenders commonly offer it — your mortgage broker can explain the terms for your situation.
Yes — in Alberta you can write an offer conditional on the sale of your current home. The trade-off is that conditional offers are less attractive to sellers, especially in competitive markets, so they can weaken your position. Having an accepted offer on your own home, or arranging bridge financing, makes you a stronger buyer. We'll choose the approach that fits your local market.
Generally, no — your principal residence is exempt from capital gains tax in Canada, so the profit on your home sale usually isn't taxed (you'll still pay realtor commissions and legal fees). The exemption applies to your primary residence; different rules can apply if you own multiple properties or used part of the home for business. Confirm your specific situation with an accountant.
It depends on your timeline, budget, and what you actually need. A renovation can add value and buy you time, but major work is expensive, disruptive, and doesn't always return dollar-for-dollar. Moving up gets you the space and layout you want now. Some families renovate to build equity first; others move because waiting costs more than the move. Let's run the math on both.
Ready to Move Up?
Let's Talk About Your Next Home
Moving up is a big decision. You deserve clarity on what it'll actually cost, whether now's the right time, and how to avoid the double-move trap. I'm here to walk you through the equity math, the timing strategy, and the coordinated plan that makes it all work.