Seller guide
Downsizing in the Bay Area: Plan the Sale and the Next Home Together
You may want fewer rooms, less yard work or a home without stairs. Plan the sale and the next home together.
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Plan the sale and the next home together
You may want fewer rooms, less yard work or a home without stairs. Before you choose a listing date, work out what the next home needs to change and what you want to keep. Less square footage is only one part of that decision.
Talk with Kate about downsizing
A smaller home does not automatically mean a smaller budget
Compare the full cost of your current home with the next one: any mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, HOA dues, utilities and maintenance. Keep selling, buying and moving costs separate from the ongoing budget.
A lower purchase price alone does not tell you whether the move will reduce your monthly expenses. Use estimates for the actual property and financing, not an assumption based on size.
Sell first, buy first or rent between homes?
If financing is needed, ask your lender what is possible before committing to a sequence. None of these options guarantees matching closing dates.
Compare the sale and purchase options
| Option | What it can help with | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Sell before buying | Know the proceeds available once the sale closes | Temporary housing, storage and potentially two moves |
| Buy before selling | Secure the next home before leaving the current one | Funds for the purchase and the possibility of carrying both homes |
| Sell, then rent while deciding | Separate the sale from the next purchase decision | Rental availability, moving costs and a later purchase at then-current prices and financing terms |
Check the layout before deciding what comes with you
Look beyond the bedroom count.
Sort belongings in stages: keep, give away, sell or recycle. Separate that work from decisions about repairs or improvements for the sale. Not every room needs renovating, and preparation costs are not guaranteed to come back in the sale price.
Check taxes before relying on a savings estimate
Ask your tax adviser about the sale's tax consequences. For the replacement home, ask the county assessor whether you qualify for a Proposition 19 transfer of taxable value. Do not assume your current property tax bill follows you.
Start with your address and your next-home priorities
Tell me where you live, what you want to change and whether you already have a destination in mind. We can discuss the current home's value and how the sale fits with your next move.
Talk with Kate about downsizing.
This is general planning information, not legal, tax or lending advice.
The method
The E.P.I.C. Home Selling Strategy
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