Whether you’re an empty nester, retiree, or grandparent, downsizing can provide just the right size for your lifestyle.
In addition to less maintenance than you now have with keeping up that large old home you raised your kids in, a smaller garden home or condo can offer more freedom for travel and hobbies, as well as close proximity to your adult children and grandchildren.
Plus, selling your home and unlocking its equity may result in leftover money to allow you to buy a newer, nicer place with less square footage, therefore saving money with fewer monthly expenses.
“Empty nesters oftentimes want to scale back within a serene, natural setting that’s not too isolated while at the same time being closer to their growing extended families so they can be more involved,” said Heath Melton, Vice President, Master Planned Communities Residential for The Howard Hughes Corporation. “That perfect balance is exactly what the master planned community of The Woodlands Hills offers. Its array of home options with convenient proximity to Lake Conroe, dining, shopping, leisure and healthcare lends to just the right type of active – yet leisurely – lifestyle.”
New home builders today have created many attractive convenience options and an abundance of luxurious features that can make you take a second look at downsizing. For example, a spacious gourmet kitchen or a master suite on the first floor with a serene, spa-like retreat bath setting. Throw in updated flooring, cabinetry, and paint color schemes and you’re off to a fresh new start.
Energy-efficient insulation, doors, and windows help cut utility bills. Newly-constructed homes often include green systems and appliances such as high-efficiency stoves, refrigerators, washing machines, water heaters, furnaces, and air conditioning units.
You’ll also have fewer repairs since new homes hold up better than those of existing homes because they are engineered specifically to minimize maintenance requirements, often using composite products for a home’s exterior trim instead of wood that can rot or need repainting.
Multi-purposing fewer rooms can be strategic. For example, make the office or hobby room easily convertible to an occasional guest room by installing a murphy bed.
A fresh start may be … just right! Enjoy the new chapter of your life!
