55%
Of All Home Sellers
Were Baby Boomers
Wellesley & Greater Boston
Is It Time to Downsize Your Home – or Stay Put?
Some clients stay and adapt their homes. Others move to reduce costs or get closer to loved ones. Team Coyle helps you weigh both options before you decide.
What the Data Shows
Who’s Selling—and Why
The decision to sell is rarely about one thing. Among Baby Boomers, moving closer to friends or family is the leading reason—and it is especially important among older sellers.
41% 29%
Ages 71–79 / Ages 61–70
Sold to Move Closer to Family or Friends
15% 10%
Ages 71–79 / Ages 61–70
Sold Because Their Home Was Too Large
Source: National Association of REALTORS®, 2026 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report , Exhibits 6-1 and 6-10. The 55% Baby Boomer share combines Younger Boomers (34%) and Older Boomers (21%). National survey covering primary-residence transactions from July 2024 through June 2025; 6,103 responses. Selected primary reasons are shown; other reasons account for the remainder within each age group.
Before You Decide
Compare What Each Path Requires
Both paths cost money and both change how you live. The useful comparison is not just this year—it is how each option could affect the next five to ten years.
Option One
Stay Put
Adapt your current home and prepare for the costs and needs ahead.
- Price the Work: Get realistic estimates for first-floor living, accessibility improvements and deferred maintenance.
- Project the Carrying Costs: Consider property taxes, insurance, utilities, routine maintenance and likely major repairs.
- Test the Location: Decide whether your access to family, friends, healthcare and everyday necessities will continue to work over the next five to ten years.
Option Two
Sell and Move
Find a home and location that better fit your priorities.
- Estimate Your Net Proceeds: Calculate what may remain after your mortgage and selling expenses, and account for potential tax considerations.
- Choose the Destination First: Research communities, prices, layouts and available homes before listing. The right replacement home may take longer to find than expected.
- Plan the Transition: Consider the buy-and-sell sequence, timing, decluttering, moving and temporary housing if needed.
There is no universally right answer. The goal is to understand what each path costs, requires and makes possible before you decide.
Quick Self-Assessment
Is Your Current Home Still Working for You?
Answer six questions to identify your pressure points and determine what you may need to evaluate next.
Step-by-Step
How to Plan Your Next Move
If downsizing your home—or simply moving to a better fit—is the right choice, these five steps organize what happens next.
Know Your Numbers Establish what your current home may produce, what you can comfortably spend and which tax questions require professional review.
- Establish the Sale Side
- Request a current mortgage payoff, establish a realistic sale-value range and calculate your projected seller net proceeds after anticipated selling expenses.
- Assemble Your Cost Basis
- Locate your original closing statement and organize qualifying home-improvement records and transaction costs.
- Set the Next-Home Budget
- Combine estimated proceeds, savings, financing options and expected housing costs to establish a comfortable price range.
- Review Tax Exposure
- Ask your tax adviser to review your adjusted basis, potential home-sale exclusion and Massachusetts capital-gains considerations .
Choose Your Destination Choose the location, home type and daily routine you want before putting your current home on the market.
- Compare Communities
- Explore our guides to Wellesley, Weston, Dover-Sherborn, Natick and Concord.
- Test the Market
- Compare your budget with current prices and the availability of suitable homes in the communities you are considering.
- Define the Right Home
- Compare condominiums, townhomes, single-family homes and age-restricted communities based on your needs.
- Test Daily Life
- Evaluate layout, accessibility, healthcare, shopping, transportation and proximity to family and friends.
Plan the Buy-Sell Sequence Decide whether to buy first or sell first, then align the financing, contingencies and timing.
- Choose Which Comes First
- Compare buying first with selling first based on your finances, risk tolerance and available replacement housing.
- Confirm Financing
- Determine whether you need a mortgage, bridge financing or proceeds from your current home to complete the purchase.
- Build a Backup Plan
- Consider temporary housing, storage and flexible closing arrangements if the two transactions do not align.
- Set the Timeline
- Work backward from your preferred move date and allow time for preparation, transactions and unexpected delays.
Simplify and Prepare Start sorting your belongings and prioritizing sale preparation while the financial and housing decisions are still underway.
- Sort Your Belongings
- Decide what to keep, sell, donate, give to family or discard before determining what will move with you.
- Start Gradually
- Begin with one room, closet or category at a time instead of waiting until the sale or move is imminent.
- Bring In Help
- Use organizers, senior move managers, contractors or estate-sale professionals when specialized assistance would make the work easier.
- Prioritize Home Preparation
- Address repairs, cleaning, staging and presentation based on likely buyer impact—not habit, guesswork or unnecessary renovation.
Sell and Make the Move Set the pricing and marketing strategy, evaluate offers and coordinate both transactions through closing.
- Set the Pricing Strategy
- Establish a market-supported launch price based on comparable sales, current competition and likely buyer behavior.
- Launch the Sale
- Coordinate photography, positioning and targeted marketing. See how the right home-selling strategy can strengthen the result.
- Evaluate the Complete Offer
- Consider financing, contingencies, timing and flexibility together with the offered price.
- Coordinate Through Closing
- Track contracts, inspections, financing, closing dates, movers, utilities and the final property handoff.
Why Team Coyle
The Right Agent Makes All the Difference
Team Coyle will help you evaluate the numbers, plan the buy-sell sequence, and negotiate the strongest possible outcome—on your timeline.
