This is the most common question move-up sellers ask, and the honest answer is that it depends on your equity and how much uncertainty you can tolerate.
Selling first gives you a known budget and an offer that is not contingent on another sale — a real advantage when a seller is choosing between two offers. The trade-off is timing: you may need a leaseback from your buyer or a short-term rental between homes.
Buying first removes the moving-twice problem but requires either enough cash to carry both payments or a bridge product from your lender. It also puts pressure on your sale, and pressure rarely improves a negotiation.
There is a middle path that works well here: list, negotiate a leaseback of 30 to 60 days into your sale contract, and shop with your proceeds already committed. You get certainty on both sides and one move instead of two.
Before you decide, model both. A net-proceeds estimate and a payment comparison usually make the choice obvious.
