Yes, you can make an offer to purchase a home in Ontario with a condition that your own home must sell first — this is known as a Sale of Existing Home condition, or an SPP or SBP (Sale of Purchasers/Buyers Property) clause — and Flowers Team Real Estate guides buyers through this strategy regularly. However, in a competitive market like Milton, it comes with important trade-offs that every buyer needs to understand before including it in an offer.

How an SPP Clause Works

An SPP/SBP clause states that your obligation to purchase the new home is conditional on the sale of your existing property within a specified timeframe — typically 30 to 60 days. If your home does not sell within that period, you have the right to walk away from the purchase and have your deposit returned. It effectively transfers the risk of selling your current home from you onto the seller of the property you want to buy.

The Cost of That Risk Transfer

Because the seller is taking on uncertainty — their home is effectively off the market while waiting for yours to sell — there is almost always a price attached to that concession. In practice this means:

• Sellers expect compensation — a buyer asking for an SPP/SBP clause typically cannot also negotiate aggressively on price. The seller is giving something significant; they will expect the offer to reflect that.
• Less competitive in multiple offer situations — in a market like Milton where well-priced homes can attract competing offers, a conditional offer of any kind — particularly one tied to the sale of another property — is at a significant disadvantage against clean, firm offers. In a hot market, most sellers will simply not accept an SPP/SBP condition.
• The 48-hour escape clause — sellers who do accept an SPP/SBP condition will almost always insist on a 48-hour escape clause (also called a bump clause). This means if another offer comes in, the seller can notify you and give you 48 hours to either waive your SPP/SBP condition and go firm, or walk away. This puts you in the position of having to make a very fast decision — often under pressure — about whether to proceed without your home sold.

When It Can Work

An SPP/SBP clause is most viable in a slower or balanced market where the seller has fewer competing buyers and more motivation to work with your timeline. It can also work when you are selling a highly desirable property that is likely to move quickly, giving the seller confidence that the condition will be fulfilled.

The Better Alternative for Most Buyers

Flowers Team Real Estate generally recommends one of two stronger approaches over an SPP/SBP clause:

• Sell first, then buy — you know exactly what you have to work with, you negotiate from a position of strength, and you are not at risk of owning two properties simultaneously.
• Bridge financing — if you find the right home before yours sells, some lenders will offer a short-term bridge loan that lets you purchase without waiting, with the bridge repaid when your current home closes.
• Sliding Closing Date - this one is not as common however very impactful. This is where a flexible closing is worked into the purchase of a property, allowing the buyer ample time to sell their home. It’s creative ideas like these that sets the Flowers Team apart from the rest. 

As the top-ranked team in Milton by independent audit data — with over 3,000 families guided through complex buying and selling decisions since 2001 — Flowers Team Real Estate will walk you through every scenario and recommend the approach that protects you best. Contact us for a personalized consultation.