Seller decisions
Should you sell first, buy first, or move before selling?
The right answer depends on your home, finances, timing, comfort with uncertainty, and the kind of move you want to make.
Three paths
Choose the approach that fits your real priorities.
- Sell firstThis can create a clearer budget for the next home and reduce the risk of carrying two properties. It may mean arranging a temporary place to stay or negotiating a timeline that gives you room to move.
- Buy firstThis can make sense when the right next home is hard to replace and you have the financial flexibility to carry both homes for a period. It calls for a realistic plan for the current home and a clear understanding of the extra costs.
- Move before sellingSome owners prefer to settle into the next home first, then prepare the current property without daily disruption. This can simplify showings and moving, but it should be weighed against vacancy, insurance, maintenance, and carrying costs.
Frequently asked questions
Can an offer include a sale contingency?
Sometimes, but the fit depends on the market, the home you want to buy, and the strength of the overall offer. Talk through the options before assuming a contingency will work.
What matters most in the decision?
Start with your financial comfort, the availability of the next home, the timing of the move, and how much uncertainty you are willing to carry. A good plan makes those tradeoffs explicit.
Talk through the options