finally enjoy some leisurely time or even travel; to invest in something like a cabin, a boat, or rental property; and to spend more time visiting family who don’t live nearby.
5. “I don’t want to leave my neighborhood.”
Some longtime homeowners are reluctant to leave not only their current home but also their neighborhood. Perhaps you’ve lived in your particular area for decades, maybe even your entire life. You know your neighbors well; you’ve made friendships; you’re connected to the community. If downsizing requires you to move out of the neighborhood you’re attached to and into a new one, you might feel uprooted and have a difficult time accepting this transition. But remember when you pictured your neighborhood 3-10 years from now? There’s a good chance many of your neighbors and friends will have moved and that new and younger people, couples, and families have moved in. You may find the overall sense of community has changed. There could very well be smaller homes, condos, and senior housing right in your area, which can help make the downsizing process and transition smoother. A good real estate agent can help you determine this. What if there are no smaller homes available within your neighborhood? Consider moving closer to family. There are plenty of empty nesters, pre-retirees, and retirees who leave their areas in order to live closer to their siblings, children, grandchildren, or other family members or friends. Remember that hypothetical couple we talked about earlier? They moved from a large home in the north to a smaller home in Florida to live close to their children and grandchildren. When it came down to their decision, they decided that health and
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