Before deciding whether to buy before you sell, find out the current market value of your home. Ask a knowledgeable real estate agent in your area to prepare a comparative market analysis. A local area specialist should be able to give you a good idea what your home is worth in the current market. Don't make the mistake of pricing your home according to how much your new home will cost. The cost of your new home has no effect on what a buyer will pay for your existing home.
Some homeowners make the mistake of relying on a refinance appraisal that was done years ago.
This might not be an accurate measure of the value of your home in today's market. The real estate market is always changing. As it changes, the value of your home changes. In addition to getting an educated opinion about the market value of your home, find out as much as you can about local market conditions. In a hot seller's market, the chances of a quick sale are much higher than in a soft buyer's market.