Downsizing your home for retirement isn’t just about moving to a smaller home, it’s about embracing new opportunities and creating a fulfilling lifestyle that reflects your priorities. This is a lot like retirement, a similarly major life transition.

It’s not uncommon for downsizing and retirement to happen around the same time in one’s life. In fact, combining these two milestones can enhance the benefits of both experiences – especially in Calgary.

If you’re looking to downsize your home for retirement, this blog is for you.

Not sure when the right time to downsize your home will be? Click here to read my blog about the perks of starting your journey early.

Baby Boomers: A New Force in the Market

Right now, Baby Boomers are hands down the biggest players in the Calgary market. We’re seeing hundreds of homeowners who are looking to transform their family homes to something smaller and better suited to where they’re at in life. This trend isn’t unique to Calgary either. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), Baby Boomers have become the most active group of homebuyers – despite being outnumbered by Millennials.

As you might expect, finances play a big role in this trend. It’s no secret that today’s generation of first time buyers are grappling with different economic realities than generations before, especially in terms of affordability. On the other hand, thanks to steady appreciation in property values, Baby Boomers now have the advantage of equity – and they’re ready to capitalize.

Preparing to downsize your home? Explore these related blogs for more helpful advice.

Downsizing For Retirement

Retirement isn’t just about waving goodbye to the workforce, it’s about enjoying the things that are important to you, such as spending time with family and friends, travelling, or exploring new interests. Downsizing works the same way.

Homeownership can feel like a part-time job, as it requires consistent upkeep and maintenance, including lawn mowing, snow shovelling, cleaning, and other maintenance tasks, which can take up your free time. Downsizing to a smaller, easier-to-manage home means spending less time on these kinds of chores, giving you greater freedom in your day-to-day. If you really want to cut back on chores, you can move into a maintenance-free community like a townhome or condo where a lot of these duties are taken care of – more on that later.

Is Calgary Good For Retirees?

Calgary is the perfect backdrop for retirement. Sure, it’s an exciting place to live at any stage in life, but it can be even more fun when you’re retired. Whether you’re into spending time outdoors, making day trips to the Rockies, checking out cultural events around town, volunteering, or simply being with friends and family, you’ll never run out of things to do in Calgary.

Where Can You Live as a Downsizer in Calgary?

Once you’ve sold your current home, the options for where you live next are practically endless.

Calgary’s real estate landscape is pretty vast. One way to sort through the options with ease is to partner with a local real estate agent who understands downsizers and their unique needs. An experienced and knowledgeable agent will help you find the right place (and the right community) for your next chapter.

With that in mind, there are actually a number of condo communities in Calgary that are specifically designed and run with downsizers in mind. These mature living condos are usually 50 or 55 plus, ensuring residents are part of a community where their neighbourhoods are in a similar life stage as them. It’s a great way to make new friends as you venture into the next chapter of your life.

On top of offering a close-knit community of like-minded residents, these properties come with fantastic on-site features that can significantly improve your quality of life. While every building is unique, common amenities include fitness centres, pools, saunas, gathering spaces, and more.

Ready to make the most of your home equity? Check out these other posts from our blog for advice on maximizing your home sale.

Selling Your Home For Top Dollar

Downsizing your home offers significant financial advantages. You’ve spent years (maybe even decades) building equity in your home. Now it’s time to cash in. That said if you’re looking to accomplish a successful downsize, your best bet is to work with an experienced, full-service real estate team – like us, Dolce Real Estate.

With more than 15 years of experience, we’ve helped sellers in Calgary earn as much money as possible from their home sale – and we can do the same for you.

Searching for a local team that can guide you through a smooth downsizing process? Look no further than Dolce Real Estate. Call 403-999-5882 send us an email at info@dolcerealestate.ca.

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