According to real estate expert Ryan Bruen of The Bruen Team at Coldwell Banker Realty in Morristown, New Jersey, the average downsizer reduces their living space by just 100 square feet. This statistic surprises most people considering a move, revealing that what begins as a downsizing conversation typically evolves into a more nuanced lifestyle redesign.
The real motivation for moving among empty nesters and retirees in Morris County communities like Morristown and Madison rarely stems from wanting less square footage. Clients report being exhausted by maintenance, wanting to travel without worrying about property upkeep, and being tired of heating unused rooms. While square footage remains similar, everything else changes as families transition from five-bedroom colonials to three-bedroom ranches with first-floor primary suites.
Location increasingly trumps size in these housing decisions. Families with school-age children traditionally prioritize quiet neighborhoods, large yards, and top-rated school districts, while empty nesters now value walkability to downtown areas, access to restaurants and cultural venues, and shorter commutes to grandchildren. Bruen recently worked with a couple who traded their 3,800-square-foot home in Chester for a 3,600-square-foot townhouse near downtown Morristown, exchanging an acre of lawn maintenance for a lock-and-leave lifestyle with walkable amenities.
Location decisions increasingly revolve around grandchildren rather than traditional retirement attractions like golf courses. Bruen observes that while colleagues in Florida and the Carolinas report New Jersey retirees moving south for lower taxes and better weather, many return within two years as the pull of family consistently outweighs other appeals.
Timing matters more than space in successful transitions, with Bruen noting that the biggest mistake is waiting too long to make the move. The ideal time to downsize is before mobility issues or health concerns force the decision, as preparing a home for sale, sorting through belongings, and coordinating a move requires significant energy. Waiting until maintaining a current home becomes difficult makes executing the move equally challenging, potentially trapping people in homes that no longer serve them.
Bruen advises clients to begin decluttering early, even if moving is one or two years away, emphasizing that deciding what to keep and what to release takes more time than the actual move. The most satisfied clients make moves proactively rather than reactively, choosing their timing, location, and next chapter on their own terms. For more information about Bruen's approach to real estate transitions, visit https://bruenrealestate.com.
