Buy or Sell First? Quiz

No universal one — only the answer that fits your cash, risk tolerance, and the current market. The three variables decide it, and forcing the wrong one creates months of avoidable stress.

When you can carry or qualify for both briefly (or tap a HELOC/bridge), you're comfortable owning two homes for a few weeks, and inventory is tight where you're buying. Buy-first trades cost and risk for certainty on the next home.

When you need the equity out to buy, double payments would keep you up at night, or your current home is in a fast-selling segment. Sell-first trades some convenience for financial safety and a cleaner, non-contingent next offer.

Usually risk tolerance. You can engineer the cash with a HELOC or bridge, but you can't engineer away the stress of a plan that keeps you up at night. Lean toward the sequence you can live with.

It's the middle path: buy first while bridge financing covers the gap until your sale funds. It costs more than a HELOC but lets you move once and compete strongly — a fit when timing is tight and reserves are healthy.

Pressure-test it against your actual numbers and the current market for both your sale and purchase. That confirmation is part of a Real Estate Review.