Should I Sell My Home Before Buying a New One?
By Jeff and Lane Morrell · October 2026
The Morrell Group | eXp Realty
It depends on your equity, your cash, and your risk tolerance. Sellers who need their equity for the next down payment usually sell first or use a bridge; those with cash and flexibility can buy first and sell on a calm timeline. In today's market, buyers with more inventory and negotiable terms have more room to make either order work.
Sell first, then buy
You know exactly what you net, there are no double payments, and you can be a stronger cash buyer. The trade-off is finding temporary housing and moving twice. This is the common path for families who need their equity for the next down payment.
Buy first, then sell
You move once and avoid the rental shuffle, but you carry two homes until yours sells, and you may feel pressure to accept a lower offer if the second mortgage drags on. That pressure is the main reason this order needs honest planning.
Bridge options in between
Contingent offers, where your offer depends on selling your home; equity loans to fund a new down payment; or renting back from your buyer after closing. We structure these across Colorado Springs, Fountain, and Monument every year and will show you which one fits your numbers.
In the current market, more inventory on the buy side means you can often negotiate a closing date that lines up with your sale, which makes both orders more workable than they used to be.
There are no emergencies in real estate, which is exactly why the order of your moves deserves a plan before a panic. We sit down, run the numbers both ways, and set the timeline that protects your equity and your sanity. You will know which door to open first.
Here when you're ready, Jeff & Lane Morrell
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