A Better Fit in Delano: Selling One Home to Buy New Construction

A family wanted to stay in Delano. CJ Norman helped them work through a canceled offer and connected home sales to make their next move happen.

Buying new construction while selling a home meant keeping several transactions moving together for this Delano family. With CJ Norman representing them, they adjusted their sale strategy, secured more time with the builder, and successfully closed on both their sale and their new home.

The goal
A better layout while staying in Delano.

The challenge
A purchase that depended on connected home sales.

The outcome
A completed sale and a new M/I Homes home.

They loved Delano. They needed a different layout.

After moving from North Dakota to the Twin Cities area in spring 2025, a family with four children bought a home in Delano with CJ Norman. At the time, it felt like the right fit. After living there, they realized the layout didn’t work for their family quite as well as they had expected.

The town was a different story. They had fallen in love with Delano and wanted to stay. When they reached out to CJ again in spring 2026, the goal was clear: find a home that worked better for everyday life without leaving the community they now called home.

Why they chose new construction in Delano

CJ and the family explored their options and met with J.P. Brooks, D.R. Horton, and M/I Homes. After comparing builders and homes, they decided an M/I Homes property in Delano was the right next step.

Their existing home went on the market, and they signed a purchase agreement for the new home contingent on selling it. The initial closing timeline gave them time to find a buyer, but the two transactions were tied together. Without a successful sale, they couldn’t complete the purchase.

The first buyer backed out. The plan had to change.

They accepted an offer on their home. The very next day, the buyer got cold feet and backed out before even having an inspection. The home went back on the market, but time had been lost.

After more time without the right offer, CJ and the sellers made a small price reduction to bring renewed attention to the listing. CJ also worked with M/I Homes to extend the closing date, giving the family more time to get their sale together.

A second buyer came along with an offer above the revised asking price. The sellers accepted, and the transaction moved through inspection successfully. It was progress, but there was another piece to work through: this buyer also needed to sell a home.

How did the connected home sales work?

The family’s buyers needed their own sale to close before they could buy the family’s home. Then the family needed that sale to close before they could purchase their new M/I Homes property. All of those closings needed to happen in the right order on the same day.

  1. The buyers sold their home.
    That sale allowed them to move ahead with buying the family’s home.
  2. The family’s Delano home sold.
    Their completed sale allowed their new construction purchase to move forward.
  3. The family bought their M/I Homes property.
    The final step put them in their new home, still in Delano.

Keeping the move together while another sale caught up

The second buyers had trouble finding a buyer for their own home within the available time. After a couple of price adjustments on that listing, they received an offer they could accept. That put the remaining sale under contract and gave everyone a path toward closing.

There was still work to do. With several transactions depending on one another, the agents, lenders, and closing teams needed to stay aligned on timing and progress. CJ stayed involved in coordinating his clients’ sale and purchase as the other pieces moved forward.

No agent can control every buyer’s decision or every step in another transaction. In this case, the work was about responding when circumstances changed, communicating with the people involved, and keeping the family’s next move in view.

The result: a new home in the town they wanted to keep

All of the connected closings were completed successfully. The family sold their existing Delano home and became the owners of a brand-new M/I Homes home in the same community.

The route included a canceled offer, a price adjustment, an extended closing date, and another household’s home sale. The outcome was the move the family had set out to make: a home better suited to their needs, without starting over in another town.

What this Delano move shows about buying and selling together

For this family, finding the next home was only part of the job. CJ Norman’s role also included helping them respond to a failed offer, adjusting the listing strategy, working with the builder for more time, and coordinating a sale and purchase that depended on other closings.

The offer above the revised asking price mattered, but so did the conditions attached to it. The family’s experience shows why an offer’s price, contingencies, and timing need to be considered together when the proceeds from one home are needed for the next.

CJ Norman is part of Norman Homes at Pemberton Real Estate, alongside Katy Norman. They help buyers and sellers in Delano and the west suburbs of Minneapolis think through how a move would work, including the steps between choosing a home and getting the keys.

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CJ Norman

CJ brings a thoughtful, steady approach to every transaction.

He listens closely, keeps the bigger picture in focus, and helps clients make clear, confident decisions without unnecessary pressure.

Clients lean on CJ for sound judgment, perspective, and guidance that leads to smart, well-timed moves.

Call CJ: 612-799-9069 Email CJ
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Katy Norman

Katy is highly proactive and relentlessly organized.

She anticipates issues early, drives timelines forward, and keeps complex details clear and controlled at every stage.

Clients turn to Katy for decisive leadership, precise execution, and steady momentum from start to finish.

Call Katy: 612-695-8399 Email Katy

Have Questions?

How do we know whether our growing family needs a bigger home or just a better layout?

Start with the parts of everyday life that feel difficult, such as bedroom placement, shared bathrooms, storage, or having everyone in one gathering space. A better layout may solve those problems without a major increase in square footage, so compare how a home works before focusing on its size.

We love our town but have outgrown our house. Where should we start?

Write down what you want to keep about your location and what needs to change inside the home, then compare nearby options with improving your current house. CJ Norman helps move-up buyers in Delano and the west suburbs of Minneapolis work through those priorities before committing to a move.

What should we look for in a home that will work as our kids get older?

Look at bedroom locations, bathroom access, gathering spaces, places to study, storage, and how much privacy the layout allows. Walk through an ordinary weekday in the house, including getting ready, coming home, meals, and bedtime, to see whether the floor plan fits your family.

How do we compare new construction with an existing home for our next move?

Compare the actual floor plans, locations, total purchase costs, likely projects, and move-in timelines of the homes you are considering. New construction may offer a layout that suits your family, while an existing home may offer a location or outdoor space you prefer.

What should we ask builders when comparing new construction homes?

Ask what is included in the price, which features cost extra, what stage the home is in, and how the builder handles the expected completion and closing timeline. If you also need to sell, raise that early so you can understand whether the builder will consider a purchase tied to your sale.

Can we buy a new construction home if we need to sell our current home first?

It may be possible if the builder agrees to a purchase contingent on your home sale, but acceptance and deadlines depend on the agreement. CJ Norman helped a Delano family complete that kind of move, including working with the builder for more time when their sale was delayed.

What should we do first if we want to buy and sell a home at the same time?

Start by confirming with your lender whether the purchase depends on selling, then work with your agent on your listing plan and the timing of your next home. That gives you a clearer basis for deciding when to list, when to make an offer, and what backup arrangements you may need.

What happens if our buyer needs to sell a home before buying ours?

Your sale may depend on another transaction closing, so review that buyer’s sale status, contingency terms, and proposed timing before accepting. If your own purchase depends on your sale, your agent and closing team also need to understand how the transactions connect.

What if our home does not sell before the closing date on our next home?

Contact your agent and lender early to review the purchase agreement, upcoming deadlines, and available options. An extension may be something to request, but it requires agreement and should not be assumed.

Can we sell our current house and close on our next home on the same day?

Same-day closings can work, but the lenders and closing teams need to coordinate the order of the transactions and when sale proceeds will be available. Plan separately for keys, possession, and moving, because completing both closings does not by itself settle those details.

Is the highest offer always the best one when we are buying another home?

Price is only one part of comparing offers when your next purchase depends on a successful sale. Consider financing, contingencies, closing dates, and the buyer’s need to sell another property alongside the amount offered.

Who can help us sell our home and buy new construction in Delano?

CJ Norman of Norman Homes at Pemberton Real Estate helps Delano buyers and sellers coordinate both sides of a move. His experience includes a family’s new construction purchase that required a revised sale strategy, a builder closing extension, and several connected closings.

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