Selling first also means your lawyer disburses your equity at possession before you need to qualify for a new mortgage, which is a more straightforward financing position for a lender to underwrite than carrying two properties briefly.
The tradeoff in a tighter 2026 market is timing risk: if your sale closes before you have secured a next home, you may need a short-term rental or an extended possession date to bridge the gap while you shop.
In a market this tight, having your sale proceeds confirmed usually strengthens your position more than it costs you in scheduling risk. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.