Rhodabelle and Andrew Braga know a thing or two about navigating big life transitions. Between raising three kids, juggling demanding healthcare careers, and planning a cross-country move, their plate was full.
Then they added in selling a home in one state while buying a new one in another state in a competitive market.
However, it wasn’t nearly as stressful as it could have been, thanks to NAF Cash.
NAF Cash helped the Bragas make a cash offer on a 3,800-square-foot four-bedroom home with two full bathrooms and two half bathrooms in O’Fallon, Mo.—before they sold their Los Angeles home.
The couple was able to rent their new home from NAF Cash until their mortgage closed with affiliated company New American Funding. This made it easier for them to get their offer accepted and move.
"My husband had already accepted a position that started in the summer, our children needed to be enrolled in school, and we had already begun the process of selling our home in California," said Rhodabelle. "We didn't want to deal with the uncertainty of having to close on both homes simultaneously.”
Trading in the coast for the heartland
After years of living in Los Angeles, Rhodabelle, 39, a former nurse practitioner turned real estate investor, and Andrew, 46, a registered nurse, knew it was time for a change.
California's rising cost of living was squeezing their family's time and resources, and they craved a slower pace, more space, and—most importantly—more time with their kids.
"We decided to move because the rising cost of living in California made it challenging," said Rhodabelle. "And we wanted more quality time with our children."
So, when Andrew accepted a new job in Missouri starting that summer, the countdown began. But like many homeowners, they faced a classic dilemma: How do you buy a new home in a new state…when your current one hasn't sold yet?
Cash power without the pile of cash
That's where NAF Cash came in.
With the program, they didn't have to wait for their California home to close before making an offer on their new home. NAF Cash bought the Missouri home on their behalf—allowing them to move in immediately and secure it as "cash buyers," giving them a serious edge in a competitive market.
"We loved that we could pack up and leave our home in California and move into our new home in Missouri right away," said Rhodabella. “We couldn't be happier with the neighborhood and school district we ended up in."
Trying to sell a home while raising children can be a challenge, especially when you're also trying to buy in another state.
Sellers need to keep the home clean for showings, stash personal items away, and figure out where to take the kids and any pets during open houses.
And if your current home sells before you've found the next one, that's a whole new level of uncertainty.
"As a mother, it took away so much anxiety—I didn't have to worry about the waiting period or figuring out temporary housing," said Rhodabelle. "We were able to settle in right away, unpack, enroll our kids in school, find their doctors, and establish our new routine.”
A strategic advantage—when you need it most
There is a small fee to use NAF Cash. However, sellers or builders are often willing to accept a lower price in exchange for the certainty of cash, helping offset that cost.
"We're confident that we did save money. But more importantly, we definitely saved time," said Rhodabella. "Our decision was primarily about mitigating risk due to our time constraints."
Buyers will secure a mortgage through New American Funding to purchase the new home once their previous residence sells. In the meantime, they’re responsible for a daily rental fee for their new home. However, payment isn’t due until their former home is sold and they close on the new one.
"Rather than a cost-saving decision, it was about reducing stress, worry, and the uncertainty that would have come with making our Missouri home purchase contingent on selling our California home," said Rhodabella. "This approach gave us security and certainty, which was especially important for our family during such a significant transition."
Moving is never easy—especially moving across the country with kids, jobs, and a house to sell? That’s even tougher. But with the right support—and a little help from NAF Cash—it's possible to make a big leap feel a lot more manageable.
"For families like mine, juggling multiple responsibilities, it was truly worth it," said Rhodabella.
