If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in the St. Louis area in 2027, you may be wondering: When should I actually start preparing for my move?

The short answer? Earlier than you might think.

You don’t need to be ready to list your house or start touring homes to begin planning. In fact, starting six to twelve months before your ideal move can give you more time to understand your finances, prepare your current home, narrow down where you want to live and make decisions without feeling rushed.

Whether you’re planning to move within St. Louis, relocate to the area or sell your current home and buy another, here’s what you can start doing now.

When Should You Start Preparing to Buy a Home in 2027?

If you want to buy a home in 2027, you can start preparing now, even if you’re months away from actually making an offer.

One of the first steps is understanding what you want your next monthly housing payment to look like.

Your home price is only part of that number. Your interest rate, property taxes, homeowners insurance, down payment and potential HOA fees can all affect your monthly payment.

Talking with a local lender early doesn’t mean you have to get pre-approved and start shopping tomorrow. It can simply help you understand where you stand today and whether there are financial steps that could put you in a better position when you’re ready.

How Much Home Can You Afford in St. Louis?

Instead of starting with a purchase price, I usually recommend starting with the monthly payment that feels comfortable for your household.

From there, a lender can help you determine what home price may fit that payment based on current interest rates, your down payment, credit profile, property taxes and insurance.

This matters when you’re looking across the St. Louis metro because property taxes and home prices can vary depending on where you’re buying.

A $400,000 home in one community may have a different monthly payment than a similarly priced home somewhere else.

If You Own a Home, Find Out What It’s Worth

Planning to sell your current St. Louis home and buy another in 2027?

Your first step may actually have nothing to do with your next house.

Start by understanding your current home’s estimated market value and how much equity you may have.

Your equity could become part of your down payment, closing costs or overall strategy for purchasing your next home.

Getting an estimated home value doesn’t mean you’re committing to selling. It simply gives you another piece of information we can use to build your plan.

Should You Make Home Improvements Before Selling in 2027?

You don’t necessarily need a major renovation before selling your home.

Before spending thousands of dollars on a new kitchen, bathroom or flooring, talk with a local real estate agent about which improvements are likely to matter most to buyers in your area.

Depending on the condition of your home, preparing to sell could be as simple as:

• Touching up paint
• Completing deferred maintenance
• Decluttering and organizing
• Improving curb appeal
• Deep cleaning
• Making small repairs you’ve been putting off

Every home is different. I’d much rather walk through your house with you early and help identify what is actually worth doing than have you spend money on improvements you didn’t need.

Where Should You Live in the St. Louis Area?

If you’re planning a move but haven’t decided exactly where you want to live, start exploring communities before you’re ready to buy.

The St. Louis metro gives buyers a lot of options, and the right fit depends on what you want your everyday life to look like.

You may be considering areas in St. Louis County, Jefferson County, St. Charles County or communities farther outside the metro.

Instead of only thinking about the house itself, consider questions like:

How far do you want to commute?
How much yard or land do you want?
Do you want to be close to restaurants, parks and shopping?
How much house do you want to maintain?
Do you want an established neighborhood, newer construction or something more rural?

You don’t have to know exactly where you want to live yet. Exploring different communities now can make your home search much easier later.

What Should Be on Your 2027 Home-Buying Wish List?

Before you start touring houses, make two lists.

Your must-haves are the things that would genuinely affect whether a home works for you.

Maybe that’s four bedrooms, a home office, a certain commute, a finished basement, acreage or a two-car garage.

Then create your nice-to-have list.

Those are the things you’d love but could compromise on for the right house.

Knowing the difference becomes incredibly helpful once you’re actually looking at homes.

Should You Buy or Sell First?

This is one of the biggest questions for homeowners planning their next move.

And there isn’t one answer that works for everyone.

Some homeowners need the proceeds from their current home to purchase the next one. Others may be able to buy first and sell afterward. Your strategy can depend on your finances, available inventory, timing and comfort level.

If you’re planning to buy and sell a home in St. Louis in 2027, this is one of the conversations I’d recommend having early.

We can look at your specific situation and build a timeline around it instead of trying to figure everything out once you’ve already found a house you love.

How Far in Advance Should You Contact a Realtor?

You don’t have to wait until you’re ready to buy or sell.

If you’re thinking about moving in 2027, reaching out six to twelve months ahead can give us time to create a plan.

That might include:

• Estimating your current home’s value
• Connecting you with a trusted local lender
• Identifying potential neighborhoods
• Setting up a home search so you can watch the market
• Reviewing your current home before you make improvements
• Creating a selling and buying timeline
• Talking through whether buying or selling first makes sense for you

There is no obligation to move just because we start talking.

Sometimes the best thing we can do is decide that you’re not quite ready yet.

Thinking About Moving to or Within St. Louis in 2027?

You don’t need all the answers yet.

Maybe you know exactly where you want to move. Maybe all you know is that your current home isn’t going to work forever.

Either way, we can start there.

I’m Kat Johnson with Top Key Properties, and I help buyers and sellers throughout the St. Louis area navigate their next move with a plan that fits their timeline.

If you’re thinking about buying, selling or doing both in 2027, reach out now and we can start building your game plan.

No pressure to move tomorrow. No For Sale sign in your yard next week.

Just a conversation about where you are now, where you’d like to go and what needs to happen between here and there.