Less square footage does not automatically mean a lower monthly bill. Before you sell a Chevy Chase home, work through the costs and layout of the place you would buy next. I would rather find a problem on paper than have you discover it after accepting an offer.
You may want less yard work, fewer stairs, or fewer rooms to maintain. Write down the tasks you want to remove. Then test the replacement home against that list. A smaller house can still have steep steps. A condo can reduce some maintenance while adding association costs and rules.
If a condo or co-op is on your list, review the budget, reserves, recent assessments, planned work, and restrictions with the appropriate professionals. Ask what the monthly charge includes. Check elevator access, moving procedures, parking, and storage yourself rather than relying on a brief listing description.
Friendship Heights and Bethesda are Red Line stations. That may be useful, but the walk from the home and access inside the building still need checking. Compare the trips you actually make. Do not pay for a location feature you are unlikely to use.
Estimate sale proceeds after selling costs and any loan payoff. Have your lender explain purchase options before choosing whether to buy first. If the next home is not available yet, discuss temporary housing and storage costs. A rent-back may help in some transactions, but it requires agreement and paperwork.
Measure furniture before deciding what comes along. Plan for records, valuables, and items that family members may want. Book help only after understanding the cancellation terms. The sale schedule should leave you time to make those decisions without treating every possession as an urgent task.
Brookville Market at 7027 Brookville Road is a different kind of stop from a larger store. Safeway at 5000 Bradley Boulevard is another option to test if that is where you expect to shop. Walk through the trip with the bags you would carry, including the building entrance and any elevator. Do not assume a smaller home automatically makes daily errands easier.
It might, but compare the full budget. Purchase financing, taxes, insurance, association charges, assessments, moving costs, and maintenance all affect the result.
First identify realistic replacement options and financing. Then compare selling first with buying first, including the costs and risks of temporary housing or owning both homes.
Call or text (202) 979-9561. We can start with the next home's requirements before deciding when to list yours.
James Buckley, owner of Canopy Property Group at eXp Realty.
800 Maine Ave SW Ste 200 Washington DC 20024
(202) 979-9561
