Should I sell my current home before buying a smaller one?

Selling your current home before buying a smaller one avoids carrying two mortgages at once and gives you a firm number to shop with, though it can mean a temporary move if timing does not line up. Buying first keeps you from a rushed search but usually requires qualifying for financing on both homes or a bridge loan to cover the gap. Your equity, your lender's guidelines, and how competitive the smaller home's market is all factor in. Joel Boss can map out both sequences with real numbers.