Right-Sizing Without Giving Up the Lifestyle You Love

We hear the word “downsizing” all the time. I’ve never particularly liked it.

It sounds like we’re supposed to start giving things up simply because we’ve reached a certain point in life. Smaller house. Fewer things. Less of everything.

But what if you don’t want less life? What if you want more travel, more time with friends, more golf, more mornings outside?

That’s why I prefer a different word: right-sizing. Right-sizing isn’t about buying the smallest house. It’s about choosing the home that supports the life you want now.

I’m Monica Condomitti, a Luxury Real Estate Advisor with MC Luxury Real Estate at Coldwell Banker, serving Rio Verde and North Scottsdale, Arizona. I’ve made this move myself, and here’s what I’ve learned.

I’ve Been Through This Myself

For years, I lived in larger homes. At one point, my home in North Scottsdale was about 6,000 square feet. There was a time when that space made sense.

But lives change. Children grow up. The way we entertain changes. And eventually, I wanted something smaller and easier.

What surprised me was that deciding to live in a smaller home was the easy part. Figuring out how that smaller home needed to live was much more important.

Start With My 85% Rule

Here’s the idea I come back to again and again: your next home should work beautifully for the way you live about 85% of the time.

Not for Thanksgiving. Not for the one week a year when the whole family visits. Not for the possibility that someone might someday need a room.

Think about your ordinary days. That’s the life your home should serve.

Protect the Spaces That Matter

Right-sizing doesn’t mean every room gets smaller. That’s where people can make mistakes.

• If you love to cook and entertain, a generous kitchen and gathering space may matter more than extra bedrooms.
• If you spend your mornings and evenings outside, pay close attention to the patio and the view.
• If you’re still working, volunteering or managing investments, an office isn’t wasted space. It’s part of your 85%.
• If you golf, travel or have hobbies, think about garage space, storage and how easy the home is to lock and leave.

Start with how you live. Then look for the spaces that support it.

Plan for Guests, Without Buying a House Around Them

This one can be emotional. We love our children and grandchildren, and we want them to visit.

If having the whole family under one roof is one of the great joys of your life, those bedrooms may absolutely belong in your 85%. But don’t assume they do. One comfortable guest suite or casita, or a nearby place for family to stay, may work beautifully. Sometimes grown children actually prefer having their own space.

There isn’t a correct answer. There’s only the answer that fits your family.

Enjoy the Lifestyle Without Owning All of It

This was another important realization for me. Do you need to personally own and maintain every amenity you want to enjoy?

If you swim every morning, a pool steps from your back door may be important. But if you swim occasionally, a community pool down the street might give you the same enjoyment without the year-round upkeep.

In a lifestyle community, the pools, fitness centers, golf, pickleball, trails, clubs and social events can become an extension of your home. That’s not giving something up. It’s changing how you enjoy it.

Decide Which Compromises Won’t Feel Like Compromises

Every home involves some tradeoffs. The goal is knowing which ones won’t bother you six months after you move in.

Maybe you’d take a slightly smaller primary bedroom for the mountain view. Maybe you’d give up a private pool for the golf membership. Maybe you’d accept a longer drive to restaurants in exchange for quieter evenings and darker skies.

Those decisions get much easier once you’ve decided what matters most. I compared how different areas fit different lifestyles in How Do You Choose Between Rio Verde, North Scottsdale, and Fountain Hills?

A Few Questions to Ask Yourself

• What does my home need to do for me most days?
• Where do I spend my mornings and evenings?
• Which rooms in my current home haven’t I used in months?
• What do I enjoy owning, and what am I tired of maintaining?
• What part of my current life do I want to make sure comes with me?

You don’t need a spreadsheet. Just pay attention to your ordinary routines. That’s where the answers are.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between right-sizing and downsizing?

Downsizing usually means simply moving to a smaller home. Right-sizing means choosing the home that fits the way you live now. It may be smaller, but the goal is a home that supports more of the life you want.

How do I know how much home I need?

Start with your ordinary days, not the busiest week of the year. I call it my 85% Rule: choose a home that works beautifully for the way you live about 85% of the time.

Is a lifestyle community a good fit for right-sizing?

For many people, yes. Shared amenities like pools, golf, fitness centers and social clubs let you enjoy more without maintaining all of it yourself. Visit in person to see whether the community fits your pace.

The Search Gets Smaller, but Life Gets Bigger

Right-sizing isn’t an ending. It’s a chance to choose a home for your next adventure, not just a smaller version of your last one.

If you’re starting to think about what your next home should look like, I’d love to talk it through with you. I also wrote about lifestyle-first moves in What Should Retirees Look for When Relocating to Arizona? Whether you’re drawn to Rio Verde, Tonto Verde, Trilogy at Verde River, Fountain Hills, North Scottsdale or Troon North, your next adventure starts with one conversation.

Monica Condomitti
Luxury Real Estate Advisor
MC Luxury Real Estate at Coldwell Banker
Rio Verde / North Scottsdale, Arizona
www.MonicaCondomitti.com
480-822-9553