How to Time It Right — Buying and Selling When Downsizing

The thought of downsizing usually brings a negative connotation with it. Something we “have to do” or are forced to do at some point in life. I totally disagree with this way of looking at downsizing. I think the concept should be embraced and even celebrated because sometimes in life less is more.

When it comes to downsizing, there’s a lot to do so it’s important to start planning well in advance of when you want to move. And part of that involves timing it right.

Why? Because you’ll be both selling your current home AND buying your new smaller home, and there are a lot of moving pieces to deal with for these two transactions. 

Plus, certain times of the year are either better or worse to both buy and sell, so we’ve got to time things around that too.

Timing all of these moving parts doesn’t have to be stressful if you know what to do. That’s one of the many places I can be helpful.

Here’s what you need to keep in mind when timing it right for your downsizing journey:

Examine Your Life and Home

This is one of the first things you need to do in order to begin the process. It’s important to look ahead as you approach any life changes, even if it’s something that won’t happen in a few years.

And if you face a last minute change that you didn’t anticipate, I can still help you make a downsizing move work in a shorten time frame.

Usually the need to downsize reflects a life change, whether it’s an upcoming retirement, becoming empty nesters, or even a financial or personal shift that makes a larger house either too expensive or just too big for your new needs.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to me sooner than later if you are considering such a move because of any life changes ahead. Even a couple of years in advance can help it not feel overwhelming as you prepare to downsize.

Reap Financial and Personal Gains

By timing it right, you’ll get to reap the financial benefits of selling your current home by using any profit from the sale for investing, boosting your retirement funds, or even using extra cash flow to fully enjoy your new life in a smaller home. Maybe take up a new hobby or travel the world!

When you see downsizing as something that can be positive in your life, you can take an active role in the process, including any decision making of the type of home, location, and what to do with all your furniture, household goods, family heirlooms, etc.

If you (or a family member) waits too long, your current home could start to deteriorate if you can’t properly maintain it year after year — that means less profit when you sell, whether from fixing it up to attract buyers or for selling it “as is”.

Understand the Timing of the Market

What your home can sell for obviously impacts the next home you can buy, so you want to get as much as you can for your current home.

I may not have a crystal ball but I do know how to get homes to sell for the most money possible, no matter what the market is doing.

However, timing is a huge factor. Certain times of the year and even certain weeks of the year are better or worse for selling.

I’ll help you understand the market’s “isms” while learning what your ideal timing is for your own goals. Together we’ll map out a plan that works for your schedule AND the market’s ideal timing too, so you can have the most profitable sale as possible.

Buying and Selling at Same Time

It takes planning and coordination to sell your current home and buy your next one so you can move seamlessly from one to the other. Making a plan and sticking with it is how to make this all happen with as little stress for you as possible.

And if you haven’t bought and sold a home in a while and feel unsure about the process, I can go over all the steps, including listing your home, making an offer for your new home, closing on each home, and so much more.

Here are other steps we’ll take together to help you:

• Understand the housing market where you plan to buy — prices, how fast or slow it’s moving, appreciation, etc.

• Figure out if you’ll need financing for this next home or will use the equity in your current home.

• Help you know what your current home is worth so you know your budget for your next home.

• Know whether you should sell first and then buy, or buy first and then sell, and understand how the finances would work for the option you prefer or that is possible for you.

Everyone’s financial situation is different and there are so many options available, and together, we’ll find the very best route for your finances and goals.

Let’s Time It Right Together!

As you can see, timing it right for YOU is important when it comes to downsizing (plus buying and selling at the same time). It takes some foresight and planning on your part, and help from an expert like me.

To make it a smooth journey, you’ll need to determine what’s ahead of you when it comes to your life and lifestyle, know you should be an active participant in the move and decision making, and understand the flow of the housing market and how the worth of your current home impacts what you can buy next. All of which will help you attain the financial security for living your best life in the years ahead.

I’m here to help you plan this move from start to finish, and all the steps in between. The earlier we meet and see what’s best for you, we can make a plan, whether it’s to wait it out for a bit or to start the process soon.

Look out for more articles in my Downsizing Series in the weeks ahead. Next week, you’ll learn how to tackle one of the biggest obstacles when moving to a smaller home — How to Purge & Let Stuff Go. The purging and prepping phase can go smoothly if you know what to do, and this article covers it all.