Should You Sell Your Nashville Home Before Buying — or Buy First?

If you’re a Nashville homeowner planning a move, this is usually the biggest (and most stressful) question: Should you sell first, or buy first? There’s no universal right answer — but there are very clear wrong ones, especially in today’s market.

We’ve helped hundreds of Nashville homeowners navigate this exact decision, and the best choice almost always depends on your timing, finances, and risk tolerance — not headlines or generic advice.

The Short Answer (Then We’ll Get Specific)

• Selling first gives you clarity, leverage, and peace of mind — but requires flexibility.
• Buying first offers convenience and control — but carries financial and market risk.
• The best path depends on your scenario.

Scenario 1: When Selling First Makes the Most Sense

For many Nashville homeowners, selling first is still the safest and least stressful option — especially if you need the equity from your current home to purchase the next one.

Selling first often makes sense if:

• Your down payment depends on proceeds from your current home
• You want to avoid carrying two mortgages
• You’re relocating to a different part of Middle Tennessee
• You prefer negotiating as a non-contingent buyer

In today’s Nashville real estate market, buyers with no home-sale contingency still have a meaningful advantage — especially in competitive price ranges. Selling first gives you certainty around budget, timing, and leverage.

Scenario 2: When Buying First Can Work — Carefully

Buying before you sell isn’t wrong — but it needs to be done intentionally. This route usually works best for homeowners who are financially flexible and value convenience over certainty.

Buying first may make sense if:

• You can qualify for the new home without selling first
• You’re comfortable and can qualify for carrying two payments short-term
• You’ve found a home that truly checks every box
• You want to avoid temporary housing or moving twice

The risk? If your current home takes longer to sell than expected, you’re suddenly managing extra stress, additional costs, and reduced negotiating power.

Why This Decision Is Different in Nashville

Nashville is not a single market — it’s dozens of micro-markets. A home in East Nashville behaves very differently from one in Bellevue, Donelson, Brentwood, or Mount Juliet.

That’s why timing mistakes often happen here. Homeowners assume their property will sell as quickly as the last one on their street, without accounting for:

• Pricing sensitivity due to interest rate change
• Buyer expectations 
• Seasonal shifts in demand
• How condition and layout affect days on market

This is where local, hands-on guidance matters most.

How Commission Structure Can Affect Your Timing

One overlooked factor in this decision is how much equity you keep after selling. The more you retain, the more flexibility you gain — whether that’s covering a bridge period, strengthening your offer, or reducing risk.

Many of our seller clients choose our 2% listing fee option specifically because it preserves capital during a move. Less friction on the sale side often opens more options on the buy side.

The Most Common Mistake We See

The biggest mistake? Trying to time everything perfectly without a plan.

Successful move-up and relocation clients don’t guess — they:

• Map out multiple timing scenarios
• Understand their true net proceeds
• Build flexibility into contracts
• Adjust strategy based on real market feedback

There is rarely one “correct” order — but there is almost always a smart one.

So… Sell First or Buy First?

If you value certainty and leverage, selling first usually wins. If you value convenience and have financial flexibility, buying first can work — with guardrails.

What matters most is choosing a strategy that fits your life, not forcing yourself into a one-size-fits-all answer. And we can help you figure that out. 

Lifelong Nashvillians James and Stephanie Crawford have spent over 20 years helping homeowners navigate moves like this with direct, hands-on representation — no assistants, no hand-offs, and no pressure-driven advice.