Start here: Buying Your Next Home
Buying your next home is rarely about the next house; it’s about lining up two contracts at the same time.
Five stages on selling first vs buying first, how much equity you really have, bridging finance, and the settlement timing most agents won’t walk you through.
5 stages~48 min total readUpdated 5 May 2026
You should be here if…
- You currently own and live in a home.
- You’re buying your second (or next) owner-occupied home.
- You want a clear-eyed read on the trade-offs of selling first vs buying first.
5 stages
Buying Your Next Home
The 5 stages
Read in order, or jump to the bit you need.
01Should you sell first or buy first?Selling first means certainty on price, friction on timing. Buying first means certainty on home, exposure to bridging cost. The right answer depends on your equity stack and the market.11 min02How much equity do you really have?Selling costs (agent + marketing + conveyancing) eat 2.5–3.5% of sale price. Stamp duty on the next house is the other big chunk. Plug those in before you set a budget.9 min03Bridging finance explainedBridging loans cover the gap between buying the new home and selling the existing one. Six-month windows are typical; the cost can be small or significant depending on equity.10 min04Settling the sale and the purchase togetherSame-day, simultaneous, deposit bond. The three patterns for moving the money cleanly between two contracts in different states.9 min05Get matched with a next-home specialistUpgraders need a broker who is comfortable with bridging, dual-loan periods and negotiating with two solicitors. Not every broker is.9 min
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Want the encyclopaedia, not the path? See the next home hub.
WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Comparison rates are calculated on a secured loan of $150,000 over 25 years for home loans and a loan of $30,000 over 5 years for car and personal loans, unless the lender states another basis. Business loans and equipment finance for a business purpose have no mandatory comparison rate.