To me, it sounds as if you might be doing things backwards.
Personally, I would start with cleaning out the NY house of the years of "stuff" and fixing it up to be sold. This is going to cost quite a bit of money to do right. It will also take a long time to do. It is a two person job and takes the effort of both parties to do it right. Cleaning out, fixing up, and selling a house is one of the most stressful times of a life. It will sell faster if it is uncluttered with years of stuff and has fresh carpet, new flooring, new paint, new appliances, etc.
Minimize the furniture in the house. You can even store some of your excess furniture or sell it or just give it to charity.
Personally, again, I would not buy another house until my NY house is listed. If you have a good agent there, hopefully it will sell in a couple of months. You will have to get the mindset of not making a financial killing on it but rather get it off your books. Taking on the mortgage of another house on top of one in NY is not the way I would want to start retirement.
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