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For Downsizers

Downsizing in Greater Moncton

A clear plan, honest numbers, and the right move at the right time. Whether you are unlocking equity for retirement, looking for less maintenance, or simply ready for the next chapter.

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Is This You?

Downsizing looks different for everyone. If any of these sound familiar, this page is for you.

  • The house feels too big since the kids moved out
  • Stairs and yard work are getting harder than they used to be
  • You want to free up equity for retirement, travel, or to help family
  • You are thinking about being closer to grandchildren or healthcare
  • You are not in a rush, but you know it is time to start planning

The Downsizing Playbook

Five steps that take the guesswork out of the move.

  1. 1

    Know Your Number

    Before any decisions get made, we figure out what your home will actually sell for in today's market. Real comparables, real condition adjustments, real timing. No inflated promises just to win the listing.

  2. 2

    Calculate Your Net

    Sale price is not what you walk away with. We back out commission, legal fees, mortgage payout, and any prep costs so you see the real number that hits your bank account. Use the calculator below to run your own scenario.

  3. 3

    Define Your Next Chapter

    Bungalow, condo, smaller home, or even rent for a year while you figure it out. We talk through what fits your lifestyle, your health, your family, and your money - then narrow the search to homes that actually match.

  4. 4

    Decide the Order: Sell First or Buy First

    This is where most downsizers get stuck. We look at your finances, your timeline, and current market conditions to choose the path with the least risk and the most flexibility for your situation.

  5. 5

    Execute the Move

    Decluttering plan, staging, listing strategy, and a coordinated closing. You have lived in this home a long time. The transition deserves a real plan, not a rushed weekend.

Run Your Numbers

Two Calculators Built for New Brunswick

Honest math, NB-specific. See your full downsizing picture or just your net from a sale. Both open in a new tab so you can run scenarios without losing your place here.

Downsizing Calculator

The full picture, sale to next purchase

Sale price minus selling costs, minus your next purchase, minus moving costs equals what you actually keep. Built specifically for New Brunswick.

Open Full Calculator

Net Proceeds Calculator

Just selling? See what hits your bank

See exactly what walks away with you after commission, legal fees, mortgage payout, and any prepayment penalty. Honest numbers, no surprises at closing.

Open Full Calculator

Calculators provided by nbrealestatecalculator.ca. Estimates only, actual figures vary by property and lender.

An Underrated Option

Should You Rent Instead of Buying Smaller?

For some downsizers, renting is actually the smarter financial and lifestyle move. It is not a step down. It is a different strategy.

Why Renting Can Make Sense

  • 100% of your home equity becomes liquid and invested
  • Zero maintenance, zero property tax, zero surprise repairs
  • Flexibility to move closer to family or healthcare later
  • Try a neighbourhood or building before committing
  • Predictable monthly costs make retirement budgeting easier

When Buying Smaller Still Wins

  • You want to keep building equity, not paying a landlord
  • You want full control over your space and any changes
  • Mortgage-free ownership keeps your monthly costs near zero
  • You plan to stay in the same place for 10+ years
  • Estate planning, you want to leave a property to family

My honest take. Neither option is wrong. The right answer depends on your equity, your timeline, your health, and what you want the next 10 to 20 years to look like. We will run both scenarios side by side so you can see the real numbers before you decide.

Sell First or Buy First?

The single biggest decision in any downsize. Here is the real trade-off.

A

Sell First

Most common path for downsizers in a balanced market.

Pros

  • +You know your exact net proceeds before shopping
  • +No risk of carrying two mortgages
  • +Stronger position when making an offer (no sale condition needed)

Trade-Offs

  • -May need short-term rental or family stay between homes
  • -Pressure to find your next place quickly
B

Buy First

Works in some situations, riskier in others.

Pros

  • +No gap between homes, move once
  • +Take your time finding the right next place

Trade-Offs

  • -Risk of carrying two mortgages
  • -Your offer may need a sale-of-home condition (weaker)
  • -You are guessing what your current home will net you

Where Greater Moncton Downsizers Are Moving

Three styles of next-chapter living, three different parts of town.

Bungalows

Riverview, Moncton North

Single-level living, mature lots, established neighbourhoods. The most-requested style for downsizers who want a yard but no stairs.

Condos

Downtown Moncton, Dieppe

Lock-and-leave lifestyle. No yard, no roof, no driveway. Walk to restaurants and amenities. Ideal for snowbirds and frequent travellers.

Smaller Homes & Patio Homes

Newer Dieppe, west Riverview

Smaller footprint, modern build, low maintenance. A good middle ground between a full bungalow and condo living.

Browse Available Homes

The Honest Costs of Selling

Numbers most agents do not lay out clearly. Here they are.

CostTypical Range
Real estate commission~5% of sale price
Legal fees$1,200 - $1,800
Mortgage discharge / payout penaltyVaries (ask your lender)
Pre-sale prep (paint, cleaning, minor fixes)$500 - $3,000
Local moving costs$2,000 - $6,000
Storage (if needed between homes)$200 - $400 / month

Use the Net Proceeds Calculator above to plug your own numbers in.

These are examples. Every home, mortgage, and closing date is different. If you have a specific question about your numbers, please ask.

Ask Cameron a Question

Downsizer FAQs

Honest answers to the questions every downsizer asks.

Do I have to pay capital gains tax when I sell my home?
If the home has been your principal residence for the entire time you owned it, no - the principal residence exemption means the gain is tax-free. If part of the home was rented out or used for business, talk to your accountant. For most downsizers selling the family home, there is no capital gains tax.
Should I renovate before selling?
Usually not. Major renovations rarely return their full cost in the sale price, especially in a balanced market. Smart, cheap fixes (paint, decluttering, professional cleaning, minor repairs) almost always pay back. Big renovations almost never do. We will walk through your home and tell you exactly which dollars are worth spending and which are not.
How long does the whole downsizing process take?
From first conversation to handing over the keys, plan for 3 to 6 months for most downsizers. Decluttering and prep takes 2 to 6 weeks. Once listed, homes are taking around 44 days to sell on average right now in Greater Moncton. Closing usually adds another 30 to 60 days. We build the timeline backward from your ideal move date.
Should I buy a smaller home or just rent?
It depends on three things: how much equity you want to keep liquid, how settled you feel about your next location, and whether you want to be done with maintenance entirely. Renting frees up 100% of your equity, eliminates property tax and maintenance, and gives you flexibility. Owning a smaller home builds equity and gives you control. Neither is wrong. We will run both scenarios with you.
What if I have not found my next place yet?
This is normal. You have options - sell with a longer closing date, sell and rent short-term, or use a sale-of-home condition when you make your next purchase. Each has trade-offs we will walk through. The worst thing you can do is rush a buy because you panicked after listing.
What does it actually cost to sell my home?
Plan for roughly 5% real estate commission, $1,200 to $1,800 in legal fees, your remaining mortgage balance plus any prepayment penalty, and $2,000 to $6,000 for moving locally. The Net Proceeds Calculator below shows you exactly what you will keep after all the deductions.
Can I downsize and stay in the same neighbourhood?
Often yes, especially in established Moncton, Dieppe, and Riverview neighbourhoods where there is a good mix of larger family homes and smaller bungalows or condos. Sometimes it means looking one or two streets over. We will map out the smaller-home and condo inventory in your area before you list.

Let's Build Your Downsizing Plan

No pressure, no sales pitch. Just a conversation about your home, your timeline, and the move that actually makes sense for the next chapter.

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