Sell first: financial certainty
Selling before buying puts a confirmed amount in hand and a clear borrowing capacity. You negotiate your purchase without a sale condition, which strengthens your offers. The downside: you may need temporary housing if you don't find a home right away.
Buy first: a smoother move
Buying first guarantees you a roof and avoids an interim move. But it often requires bridge financing and the risk of carrying two properties for a while. In an area where sales are quick, that risk is lower; where they're slow, it grows.
Your area's market tips the balance
In a high-demand neighbourhood where properties sell fast, buying first carries less risk. In a slower or pricier area, selling first better protects your finances. That's why the decision is made neighbourhood by neighbourhood, not in general.
Coordinating both transactions
It's often possible to align notary dates so sale and purchase follow one another with almost no gap. That takes coordination and a good read on your market's real timelines, exactly the kind of judgement call where a broker saves you time and money.
The right decision is personal
There's no single rule: the best sequence depends on your cash, your financing and your area's pace. A conversation with a broker, before you commit, clarifies the safest scenario for your exact situation.