In a two-step precondensate process for preparing polyamides diamines are reacted with dicarboxylic acid dihalides in a polar, non-basic, inert organic liquid medium under conditions such that a condensation product having a low degree of polymerization is formed. The resulting condensation then is contacted with an aqueous solution of a water-soluble acid acceptor by continuously feeding the components into a reactor system having a total residence time from about 2 seconds to about 2 minutes, and having a Peclet number greater than about 3.5 to form a polyamide product having a high degree of polymerization.