From a Man Who’s Helped Individuals By means of the In-Between
Somebody decides to promote their home and step into a brand new sort of freedom—a custom-built campervan, designed to take them wherever they wish to go. It’s daring. It’s thrilling. It’s life-changing.
However there’s all the time that awkward center half—the “the place do I dwell whereas my van is being constructed?” half.
When you’re like most of our shoppers at Drifter Vans, the sale of your property is what funds your van. Which means the timing of your property sale and van construct not often line up completely. You may shut on your own home and nonetheless have 3 to six months earlier than your van is full.
And through that point… you want a plan.
Right here’s navigate the house between houses—financially, virtually,
Why We Take a 50% Deposit Two Months Earlier than the Construct
Whenever you guide a van with us, we schedule your construct begin date months upfront. However two months earlier than that begin date, we require a 50% deposit.
As a result of your van isn’t sitting on a shelf someplace. We use that deposit to:
Safe your chassis or donor van (if we’re sourcing it)
Order supplies and {custom} parts
Lock in labor and timeline with our group and designers
With out it, your mission doesn’t transfer ahead. So if that cash is coming from the fairness in your own home, you’ll have to plan forward.
Promoting Your Home to Stay in a Van: What to Know Earlier than You Begin

1. Negotiate a Hire-Again Settlement
When you’re promoting your property in a powerful market, ask your realtor a few rent-back settlement, which helps you to keep in your own home for 30–60 days after closing. This offers you entry to funds for the deposit whereas conserving a roof over your head.
Superb for: Sellers with versatile patrons or fast closings.
2. Keep With Household or Associates (Quickly)
Some shoppers stick with grownup kids, siblings, or lifelong mates in the course of the wait. It’s not without end—simply lengthy sufficient to get you from “home offered” to “van delivered.”
Simply be upfront about how lengthy you’ll want. Most Drifter builds are accomplished in 3 months, after begin date.
3. Hire a Brief-Time period House
If staying with household isn’t an possibility, take into account versatile housing:
Hipcamp: Camp legally on personal land. Inexpensive and scenic.
Airbnb: Discover furnished short-term leases, cabins, or visitor suites.
Prolonged-stay accommodations: Lodges like Residence Inn or Staybridge provide month-to-month charges.
Harvest Hosts: When you’ve already bought a brief van, you may keep at wineries, farms, and breweries throughout the nation.
Desire a break from the noise? This may be your probability.
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4. Finance Your Van and Pay It Off As soon as the Home Sells
We work with respected RV financing suppliers. If your property hasn’t offered but—otherwise you wish to begin sooner—you will get began with 20–30% down and finance the rest.
As soon as your own home sells, you may repay the stability with no early payoff penalty.
Tip: Financing isn’t for everybody. Ensure the month-to-month funds suit your long-term vanlife price range.
(Need assistance? Try our financing information for more information.)
5. Discover a HELOC or Bridge Mortgage Earlier than You Promote
Earlier than itemizing your property, speak to your lender a few House Fairness Line of Credit score (HELOC) or bridge mortgage. These choices help you faucet into your property fairness earlier than the home sells.
You need to use these funds to cowl the deposit and transitional dwelling prices, then pay them off as quickly as the house closes.
Essential: Apply earlier than your own home hits the market—lenders not often approve HELOCs on houses already beneath contract.
6. Promote First, Then Be part of the Construct Queue
In case your precedence is monetary readability, you may wait till your property is offered, then place your deposit and begin the clock. You’ll seemingly be ready 2–3 months for the construct to start out, then one other 2–3 months for completion.
That is the lowest-risk possibility—however requires an extended transitional keep.
Inner Assets to Assist You

Shopping for the Van Is Solely A part of the Journey

When you’re promoting your own home to dwell in a van, step one is timing it proper—each financially and logistically.
At Drifter Vans, our {custom} builds are usually booked out 9–12 months upfront, and we solely tackle a restricted variety of initiatives every year to make sure each van will get the eye it deserves.
So should you’re severe about constructing your subsequent dwelling on wheels—begin the convers-
Let’s get your timeline in movement, collectively.
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