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 challenges conventional assumptions about downsizing and reveals that the process is less about reducing square footage and more about redesigning one's lifestyle.
Bruen notes that clients in Morris County, including Morristown and Madison, rarely move because they want less space. Instead, they seek relief from maintenance burdens, desire the freedom to travel without property concerns, and want to stop heating unused rooms. The square footage often remains similar, but the home's layout and functionality change dramatically. For example, a five-bedroom colonial might become a three-bedroom ranch with a first-floor primary suite, maintaining similar size while offering a completely different living experience.
Location emerges as a more critical factor than size for empty nesters. While families with children prioritize quiet neighborhoods and school districts, older adults increasingly value walkability to downtown areas, access to restaurants and cultural venues, and shorter commutes to grandchildren. Bruen cites a recent case where a couple traded their 3,800-square-foot home in Chester for a 3,600-square-foot townhouse near downtown Morristown, essentially maintaining the same space but gaining a lock-and-leave lifestyle with walkable amenities.
Grandchildren have become a primary driver of location decisions, often outweighing traditional retirement attractions like golf courses or favorable climates. Bruen observes that many New Jersey retirees who move to Florida or the Carolinas for lower taxes and better weather return within two years due to the pull of family connections.
Timing proves more important than space reduction in successful downsizing transitions. Bruen warns that waiting too long to move, especially until mobility or health issues arise, can make the process overwhelming. He recommends beginning decluttering early, focusing on attics, storage closets, and paperwork, as these items require more time to sort through than furniture.
The most satisfied clients are those who make proactive moves on their own terms, choosing their timing and location deliberately. For more information about The Bruen Team's approach to real estate, visit https://bruenrealestate.com. The square footage ultimately becomes the least important consideration in what is fundamentally a lifestyle redesign rather than a simple downsize.
