Do I need to sell my current home before buying?

Not necessarily — you have several options depending on your equity, income, and timeline. Option 1: Buy first, sell second using your existing income to qualify for both mortgages (works if your debt-to-income ratio supports both payments). Option 2: Use a HELOC or cash-out refinance on your current home to pull equity for the down payment on the new home, then sell and pay off the HELOC. Option 3: Bridge loan — a short-term loan secured against your current home that funds the down payment on the new one, paid off when you sell (typically 6-12 month terms). Option 4: Sale-leaseback or rent-back agreement where you sell first but stay in the home for 30-60 days after closing. Option 5: Make a contingent offer (the new purchase is contingent on selling the current home) — this works in slower markets but gets rejected fast in competitive ones. The right choice depends on how much equity you have, how strong your income is, and how competitive the market is for the home you want. Let's run the numbers for your specific situation.