Selling first gives you a firm sale price and proceeds in hand before you commit to a purchase, which a lender and a lawyer both prefer, but it can also mean a rushed search for your next home or a temporary rental if timing does not line up.
Buying first protects you from being without a home, but it usually requires either qualifying to carry both properties or arranging bridge financing to cover the gap between closing dates.
The right sequence comes down to your mortgage qualification, your equity position and how tight the timeline actually is, which is a conversation to have before either transaction goes firm.
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