Ask Nanci
Should I sell first or buy first?
Short Answer
Selling first protects you from carrying two payments and gives you cash in hand, but it can leave you needing a place between homes. Buying first gives you more time to find the right home but can mean carrying two properties. The right answer depends on your equity, your budget, and your market, and it is a decision best made with real numbers.
The case for selling first
Selling first gives you certainty. You know what you have to work with, you are not carrying two payments, and you can make a strong, confident offer on your next home.
The tradeoff is that you may need a place to live between homes, whether that is temporary housing or a leaseback.
The case for buying first
Buying first gives you time to find the right home without the pressure of a looming move date. You move once, directly from one home to the next.
The tradeoff is that you may carry two mortgages or two sets of costs until your current home sells.
The middle path
A bridge loan can fund your purchase before your sale closes, and a leaseback can let you sell first while staying in your home for a period after closing.
These options give you more flexibility than a strict sell-first or buy-first choice.
What the numbers tell you
The decision comes down to your equity, your ability to cover overlap costs, and how your market is moving. We run those numbers together.
Knowing your position takes the guesswork out of the choice.
How Nanci can help
I lay out the sell-first, buy-first, and middle-path scenarios with your real numbers, so you can see the cost and risk of each.
You decide with confidence, not pressure, and I protect whichever path you choose.
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Every message is answered within one business day, in English or Spanish. No jargon, no pressure.