Keep the place you love.
Compare contractor estimates for layout changes and easier upkeep with the full cost of moving. Consider disruption and whether the home can meet your longer-term needs.
Compare staying and moving ↗
LESS TO MANAGE. MORE TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
Downsize your home.
Make room for
what’s next.
A thoughtful downsizing plan for Katy & West Houston.
Built around your life, your numbers, and your pace.
A NEW CHAPTER, ON YOUR TERMS.
KATY · FULSHEAR · RICHMOND · CYPRESS · BROOKSHIRE · WEST HOUSTON
START WITH WHAT YOU WANT TO GAIN
A smaller home.
A life that fits.
Downsizing is the move. Rightsizing is the goal.
Maybe the bedrooms are empty, the stairs feel inconvenient, or the weekends disappear into maintenance. You may want less house, a more useful layout, or to be closer to the people and places you enjoy.
Start by comparing staying, buying, and renting before you choose a listing date. Katie Curran, REALTOR®, helps connect the sale of your current home with the next place you’ll call home.
A SMALL STEP YOU CAN TAKE TODAY
Where does your
plan stand?
Check what you’ve already worked through. This is a conversation starter, not a score that decides whether you should move.
Your selections stay in this page only. Nothing is sent or saved.
Start with your reasons for moving. You don’t need a listing date.
CLARITY BEFORE COMMITMENT
Smaller doesn’t
always mean cheaper.
Compare the full monthly cost, then account for the cash needed to move. Use actual quotes wherever possible.
Mortgage principal and interest belong in the payment field; enter taxes and insurance separately to avoid counting escrow twice.
How the exemption estimate works: School tax = the appraised value less the qualifying $140,000 general homestead deduction, the additional $60,000 age-65 deduction when selected, and any confirmed extra school deduction, with taxable value floored at zero, multiplied by the school rate ÷ 100. A confirmed school ceiling limits that school-tax amount. Other annual property taxes are added, and the total is divided by 12.
County selection opens the appropriate appraisal district; it does not assume a countywide rate or local exemption. Rates, local exemptions, appraisal caps, other special exemptions, and transferred ceilings require property-specific information. This is a full-year planning estimate, not closing-year proration or an official tax determination.
Rules checked October 18, 2026: Texas Comptroller exemption guidance ↗ · School tax ceiling transfer certificate ↗
Illustrative editable inputs, not local averages or a quote. Enter combined one-time selling, purchase-closing, preparation, moving, storage, and temporary-housing costs. The recovery calculation divides these costs by monthly savings. It excludes purchase price/down payment, equity changes, investment returns, income taxes, appreciation, inflation, financing fees not entered, and future repairs. It is a cash-flow comparison, not a total-return analysis or financial advice. Nothing is transmitted.
TWO TRANSACTIONS. ONE TIMELINE.
Which move order
fits your situation?
| Approach | What it gives you | What to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Sell first | Known sale proceeds before your next purchase. | Temporary housing, storage, and a second move if dates don’t align. |
| Buy first | Time to move and prepare the old home after you leave. | Lender approval and reserves to carry both homes; sale timing is uncertain. |
| Coordinate closings | A chance to connect your sale and purchase closely. | Contract contingencies, funding delays, possession terms, and a backup place to stay. |
A temporary lease after closing is subject to agreement, written terms, lender requirements, and insurance review. Don’t schedule movers around an assumed possession date.
Talk Through Your TimelinePREPARE THE INFORMATION, TOO
Bring the details.
Leave the pressure.
For a first conversation, bring your priorities and rough timeline. Gather records as the plan takes shape; don’t send sensitive documents through an initial inquiry form.
A useful starting folder
- Current loan statement; request an official payoff when needed.
- Property tax statement, exemption records, and insurance information.
- Survey, title records, HOA documents, and any known restrictions.
- Repair history, warranties, and improvement receipts.
- Next-home priorities, floor-plan measurements, and moving quotes.
Questions for your advisors
Property taxes: A qualifying Texas homeowner may transfer the percentage of school taxes paid under an age-65 or disabled tax ceiling to another Texas homestead. The old dollar bill does not simply move with you. Ask the appraisal districts about the certificate and any local limitations. Texas Comptroller guidance ↗
Home-sale taxes: Eligible owners may exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or $500,000 for a qualifying joint return. Ownership, use, prior exclusions, and other rules apply. Ask your CPA about your situation; buying another home does not itself determine eligibility. IRS home-sale guidance ↗
Katie handles real estate pricing, preparation, negotiation, and coordination. Your CPA, attorney, lender, title company, insurer, and appraisal district handle their respective advice and determinations.
GO A LITTLE DEEPER
Notes for your
next chapter.
0102030405
The Complete Guide to Downsizing Your Home in Greater Houston
A practical overview of the move, from first questions to settling in.
Aging in Place vs. Downsizing in Houston: How to Decide Before It Becomes Urgent
Compare adapting your current home with finding another layout.
When the Kids Move Out: Rethinking Your Home as an Empty Nester in Greater Houston
Make space for the emotional side of leaving a longtime home.
The Money Side of Downsizing in Greater Houston: What Changes — and What Doesn’t
Review equity, monthly costs, and renting versus buying.
Signs It’s Time to Downsize Your Home in Katy & Greater Houston
Recognize when maintenance, unused rooms, and priorities have changed.
THE QUESTIONS THAT COME FIRST
Let’s make it
a little clearer.
What is the difference between downsizing and rightsizing?
Downsizing usually means moving to a smaller home. Rightsizing means choosing a home that fits how you want to live, whether that means fewer rooms, one floor, less yard work, or a different location.
Will a smaller home save me money?
Not automatically. Compare mortgage or rent, property taxes, homeowners and flood insurance, HOA dues, utilities, maintenance, and the one-time cost of moving. A smaller home can cost more each month.
Should I sell first or buy first?
Selling first establishes your proceeds but may require temporary housing. Buying first can make the move easier but requires financing and reserves to carry both homes. Katie can coordinate the real estate timeline; your lender confirms financing.
Do I need to renovate before listing?
Start with a walkthrough and a written preparation budget. Address necessary repairs and presentation before committing to a remodel. Compare the likely benefit, disruption, and cost for your specific home.
Can I explore downsizing without being ready to sell?
Yes. Start with your priorities, an estimated home value and net proceeds, and a realistic look at replacement homes. A planning conversation does not require you to choose a listing date.
Does an over-65 tax ceiling move with me?
Eligible Texas homeowners may transfer the percentage of school taxes paid under their tax ceiling to another qualifying Texas homestead. It is not a transfer of the old dollar tax bill. Ask the appraisal districts about eligibility, the certificate, and any local taxing-unit limitations.
Can family help with the planning?
Yes, with your permission. Decide who will join conversations and how decisions will be made. Title and legal professionals should confirm ownership and signing authority if anyone is acting for an owner.
Tax-ceiling FAQ: Texas Comptroller. Reviewed October 17, 2026.
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER STARTS WITH A CONVERSATION
A plan that feels
like your own.
Katie Curran, REALTOR®
MKAT Group | Keller Williams Signature
Katie is a co-founder of MKAT Group, serving Katy and Greater Houston buyers and sellers. She helps you connect pricing, preparation, and your next-home search into a plan that fits your priorities.
Plan Your Next MoveOpens our MKAT Group contact page. Mention downsizing, your area, and your approximate timeline so Katie can follow up about your move. Please keep financial and legal documents out of your initial message.
Meet MKAT Group ↗