Short answer：The choice between selling first and buying first depends on funding dates, temporary housing and overlapping property commitments. No sequence fits every household.
Put both transactions on one calendar
Mark deposits, contracts, completions, redemption and possession. Sale proceeds are net of debt and costs and are not available before settlement. Delay in one transaction may not extend obligations in the other.
Test a difficult timing gap
Selling first may require temporary accommodation and two moves. Buying first requires a plan for delayed sale, lower proceeds or insufficient lending. Obtain written banking and legal terms for bridging, possession or leaseback arrangements.
Before deciding
- Confirm net sale proceeds, not headline price
- Reserve for overlapping completion periods
- Have possession and delay terms reviewed
Sources and method
Sources support the specific rules described. Checklists and hypothetical calculations are editorial explanations, not measured market results or individual approvals.
Revision：Removed unsupported experience, case outcomes and statistics; corrected the topic-specific rules and limitations described above.
Scope：General information only, not personalised legal, tax, immigration, admissions or investment advice.