Sell the big house. Buy the right one. Move once.
Downsizing is two deals that have to land on the same day: the sale that funds your next move, and the home you're moving into. Here's how I keep both on track, with real numbers from homeowners I've helped.
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Watch: downsizing and relocating on Long Island
The three questions that keep downsizers stuck
What will I actually walk away with?
Not the list price. The number after the payoff, transfer taxes, attorney fees and any repairs.
Where do I go?
Most people stall here. They won't list until they know where they're landing.
What if it sells first?
Nobody wants to close on a sale with nowhere to move. There are ways to structure around that.
How I handle a downsizing move
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Your real number first
Before we list, I walk you through a net sheet so you know what you'll have for the next home.
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Permits and CO checked early
Older Long Island homes often have open permits or unpermitted work. Finding it before a buyer does protects your price and your closing date.
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The next home lined up
We decide together whether to buy first, sell first, or stay in the house for a period after closing.
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Both closings coordinated
I work with your attorney, the lender and, if you're leaving New York, the agent in your new state, so the dates line up.
Real downsizing moves
Details changed for privacy. The numbers are real.
He stayed two months after closing while his new home was finished.
A small house, no basement, on a 100 by 100 lot. My value was $585,000 to $600,000. A cash buyer who wanted the lot paid $750,000. His new construction out of state wasn't ready, so we negotiated two months in the house after closing. I coordinated with the agent there and got his purchase price down from $415,000 to $410,000. His mortgage was paid off at closing, and he bought the new home with the proceeds.
Unpermitted work didn't stop it, and the condo came in $25K under asking.
The house had unpermitted work, and we priced and marketed it with that in mind. Eighteen offers came in over one weekend, and the homeowner took $800,000 all cash. On the other side, I negotiated the condo she was moving into $25,000 below asking, and she paid for it in cash from her sale proceeds.
He thought he'd be forced out. He sold and moved the same day.
He'd lived in his two-family for decades. The house needed major work, the boiler was at the end of its life, and keeping it up had become too much. Two buyers backed out after inspection. We listed at $1,100,000 and sold for $1,110,000, all cash, no contingencies. At the same time, I found a home he now shares with his daughter and her fiancé, and negotiated it from $685,000 to $625,000. It was their first home, and he has family close by. Both deals closed together.
In their words
“We were navigating two major real estate transactions simultaneously, where the timing of one directly affected the other … Integrity Core Realty lived up to its name.”Jennifer C., sold her father's longtime home and bought her first · Google review
Moataz “Mo” Elshamy
Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker · Certified Expert Listing Agent · Certified Real Estate Negotiator
Downsizing is two transactions with one deadline. My job is to protect your number on the sale, get you the right terms on the next home, and keep both closings lined up so you only move once.
★ 5.0 on Google · 55 reviewsQuick answers
How do I know what I'll walk away with?
Start with the sale price, then subtract the mortgage payoff, transfer taxes, attorney fees, any agreed repairs or credits, and real estate professional fees. I build this net sheet with you before we list. Your attorney confirms the final figures.
Can I stay in my house after closing?
Often, yes. A post-closing occupancy can be negotiated into the contract. The terms (length, cost, escrow) are set by the attorneys, and the buyer and lender have to agree.
Should I fix the house up before I sell?
Not always. Some repairs pay for themselves and many don't. I'll tell you which ones change your net and which ones only cost you time.
What if my house has open permits or unpermitted work?
It can still sell. The key is finding it early so it doesn't surface three days before closing. Your attorney and the town decide what has to be closed out.
I'm moving out of state. Can you help with that side?
I'm licensed in New York, so I handle your sale here and coordinate with a licensed agent where you're going, so both timelines work together.
Thinking about downsizing?
Tell me about your house and where you'd like to go next. I'll give you an honest read on your number and your timing, even if the answer is to wait.
Start My Downsizing Plan About five minutes. No obligation.