There is truly no concrete 'correct' answer to this question. There are pros and cons to buying a home before selling your current home and the same can be said about selling your current home before buying another.
Buying a home before selling your current home
The biggest benefit to buying a home before selling your current home is the fact that you have a suitable property lined up. This can reduce the stress and pressure of having to find a home once your current home is sold. However, if you are unable to purchase a new home without having to sell your current home, you’re purchase offer is going to be contingent upon sale and transfer of title of your current home. If your current home does not sell in a timely manner, this can lead to you getting “bumped” by a non-contingent buyer and you losing out on the home you’re looking to purchase, which can be devastating. Furthermore, many seller's are not interested in offers contingent to the sale of the buyer's home. If they are, it will come at a price and you will pay for the contingency by offering top dollar.
Selling your current home before buying a new home
The time it takes to sell your current home is unpredictable. There is no crystal ball that exists that can tell you exactly how many days it will take. Selling your current home before buying a new home will put you in an ideal position to negotiate on the new home you’re purchasing due to the fact you are purchasing without the sale contingency of your current home. You know the exact proceeds of your current home and an exact date of closing.
One risk of selling your current home without buying a new home first is the chance of not being able to have a place to live. There are options if your current home sells before buying another. A 'rent-back' can sometimes be negotiated with the buyer of your current home. A “rent-back” would allow you to retain possession of your current home for a certain number of days after closing at the expense of paying the buyers mortgage. A 'rent-back' allows for additional time to find a new home.
