In years past, we would tell sellers not to look at houses until theirs sold.  Now we are in a fast moving market where homes sell within days and there is a shortage of homes for sale.  In this new market, you have to buy a house before selling yours. You have to see the house as soon as it goes on the market. Purchase prices are high (but your house will sell high too) and you need to expect to pay full price or more. Your financing needs to be in place as well.  It is a sellers market so we must be very accommodating to the seller.  This means that you cannot ask for things like new carpet or your offer will be declined. 

When your offer is accepted then you put your house on the market.  Remember, you have already prepared your home, signed listing papers, had pictures done, and the agent has the listing in the computer but not activated, and has done brochures etc. with this being said, your house can be on the market within an hour.  

The reason we are telling to buy a house first is that with a shortage, you may need to write several contracts to get one signed. Great houses take time to find.  In most cases the buyers write at least 2 or 3 times before one is accepted.  

As always we need to change with the times.  Buying a house before selling yours can be frightening but this is the new way. As your agent, I have 30 years experience and know how to time this transaction so that everyone wins. I have been listing homes this way this year with great success.