Several years ago, I had a listing appointment with a retiring man wanting to sell his La Mesa property. 

His kids had grown up and moved out and his wife was deceased. At nearly 4,000 square feet, all the space made him feel lonely he said. While giving me the tour, he chuckled at the bottom of the stairs and said, “It may be a little dusty, I haven’t been up there in six months.” 

Imagine not stepping foot in half of your dwelling for six months. That is too much house. Do one or two people need four bedrooms, four bathrooms, an office, den, swimming pool, and one-acre lawn? 

For numerous reasons, many retirees downsize. 

Large homes are expensive to maintain. Utility bills are higher, housekeeping is time-consuming and landscapers are necessary unless you enjoy mowing lawns, weeding, trimming hedges, pruning trees, fertilizing, and fighting gophers. 

Once the need is no longer there to have extra space for the kids and their friends or be close to their schools, empty nesters can become – gasp – a little selfish. 

What will this next chapter bring? Travel, joy, interest, fun, convenience? 

The move from the suburbs to the city, “Andy and Irene:” 

For 26 years, Andy and Irene owned a beautiful, two-story, 3,000 s.f. home with a swimming pool in Mount Helix. 

They raised their two sons in the home and kept it beautiful. The sons were grown and starting families and Andy and Irene didn’t need four bedrooms anymore. They were also starting to hate the stairs. 

I sold their home and they purchased a luxury condo in the Pacific Gate by Bosa building in the Columbia District of Downtown San Diego. Price-wise, this was a lateral move, which is often the case when moving from East to West. You sell a detached home for the same price you pay for a condo half the size. 

Their stunning condo is single-story with no more stairs. They enjoy beautiful bay views from their walls of glass and can swim in a pool they don’t have to maintain. Amenities include a fitness center, pool, spa, lounge, and private $1M yacht share. They are surrounded by world-class restaurants and there are countless activities to enjoy. 

Additionally, when they travel, they don’t have to worry about their home. 

They are very happy. 

The Move from the rural country to a small town, “Ron and Sara:” 

For 16 years, Ron and Sara’s 3,600 s.f. Singing Hills house was the hangout for their kids and their friends after school. Once their son and daughter graduated from Steele Canyon High School, the parents no longer needed a large house, expansive acreage, or proximity to school and extracurricular activities. 

I sold their big home and found them a La Mesa cottage. Moving into a home less than half the size of what they were used to, I initially worried they would feel cramped in a much smaller space. Nope. 

Their purchase was hundreds of thousands of dollars less than their sale and they turned that cottage into an exquisite space. They built a beautiful pool & spa, replaced a shed with a stunning office/gym/bath, and made the interior Architectural Digest beautiful. 

No longer “out in the boonies,” they enjoy their strolls to the shops and restaurants of La Mesa Village. They’re also much closer to malls, beaches, and the airport. 

Considerations when downsizing: 

The more west, the more expensive. 

How much space is needed for returning kids or visiting grandkids? 

Moving to the city offers more restaurants and entertainment but also more crowds, noise, and, until we get better governing, more homeless issues. 

Are there friends and family you might miss in the old neighborhood? 

Can you take advantage of Prop 60/90 – transferring your property tax base? Huge savings. 

Downsizing can simplify lives, save time and money, and bring a whole new lifestyle! 

– Reach eXp Realtor and La Mesa Vice Mayor Laura Lothian at: [email protected]