Just numbers on a page, get the emotion out of it.

Serana - both ideas  have merit ...not sure if the timing aspect has been touched on with the replies ...so here is additional  feedback .....if you refinance the loan and pull out some cash to use for the  new property down payment , you can  control  when you can make an offer on the new property .....if on the other hand you find a new property and then  need to  sell the  current home for the larger  amount of cash - you will be  weakening any offer you might  make  if you ask for a longer  closing period to accomplish this ......summary - you will likely be in a stronger  negotiating position  if you have a large  cash position and don't need to worry about the present home selling

Real Estate investing is not sexy but it’s long term stability as long as you manage it correctly and don’t get emotional.

Seek out markets that demonstrate population growth, job growth, and favorable average household income within a five-hour radius of your location.Now, here's a reality check: as investors, we must strike a balance between emotional attachments and data-driven decisions.

Need to look at this methodically and leave emotion out of it best you can.  

My wife is emotionally attached to it - doesn't want to sell (didn't really want to move) - so I'm building a case to open her mind to the opportunity cost of holding it - e.g. 

I'm not trying to doubt you and I say this with all due respect but there are currently signs that China's economy is weakening.  

You've got to think long and hard about how hard you want to work and how emotionally equipped you are with dealing with people who will try to steal from you at any given opportunity.

I know that this is extremely hard for adults already conditioned but it (fear) is an emotion and it can be controlled.

During this time my emotions were all over the place.