Questions to ask your financial advisor before downsizing.

1. What can I comfortably spend on the next home?

Start with your everyday life and the full cost of owning or renting. Complete the housing-cost worksheet linked below before your appointment.

• What monthly housing budget fits my income, travel plans and other priorities?
• How much cash would remain after selling, paying off the mortgage, moving and buying the next home?
• How should we account for property taxes, insurance, association fees, utilities, maintenance and future fee increases?
• Would renting for a year change the plan in a useful way?

2. Should I pay cash, finance, or use a combination?

Ask your advisor to compare realistic alternatives using your finances. Have a lender confirm any borrowing options separately.

• How much liquidity would I give up by paying cash?
• How would a mortgage payment affect my retirement cash flow?
• What are the costs, risks and tax considerations of selling investments or taking retirement withdrawals to buy?
• Can we compare the choices without assuming investments will earn a particular return?

3. How much should stay available for surprises?

A move can bring overlapping expenses and decisions that are expensive to reverse.

• What emergency reserve should remain after closing?
• Could I carry two homes if a sale or purchase is delayed, and for how long?
• What should I reserve for repairs, a condo special assessment, temporary housing, storage and a second move?
• Where should money needed soon be held, and what protections, withdrawal limits or risks apply?

4. What should my tax professional review before I act?

Sale proceeds and taxable gain are different calculations. Coordinate with your tax professional before committing to a transaction or withdrawal. The IRS resource below explains the general home-sale rules.

• Could I qualify for a home-sale gain exclusion, and what records will establish my basis and improvements?
• Does past rental or business use, ownership history or a previous sale affect the calculation?
• Could investment sales or retirement withdrawals affect taxes or Medicare premiums?
• If I move to another state, what residency and tax questions should we address before setting dates?

5. Does the plan still work if life changes?

Ask for more than one scenario so the plan has room for uncertainty.

• How does the budget hold up with higher living costs or lower investment returns?
• What changes if one household income ends or a spouse dies?
• How would future care expenses or home accessibility changes affect the plan?
• When should we review this plan again, and what would trigger an earlier review?

6. Who needs to coordinate the decisions?

Linda can help with local market information, an estimated selling-cost picture and transaction timing. Your financial advisor, tax professional, lender and estate attorney each bring a different part of the answer.

• Should my estate attorney review title, trusts, beneficiary designations or gifting plans before the move?
• Who will confirm tax assumptions and financing details?
• Are you acting as a fiduciary in this engagement, how are you paid, and what conflicts should I understand?
• What are the total planning, account and investment fees, and what services do they cover?

7. Bring a useful meeting folder

Ask the advisor how to share sensitive documents securely. Do not send account numbers, Social Security numbers or financial statements through this website’s contact form.

• Your completed housing-cost worksheet and a list of goals and must-haves.
• Current housing bills, mortgage information and Linda’s estimated sale-proceeds figures.
• Income, asset and debt summaries, plus relevant tax and estate documents the advisor requests.
• Your likely destination, timeline and concerns about the move.

Leave with a written next step

Before the meeting ends, record your working housing budget, reserve target, unanswered questions, who will answer them and the next review date. This page is a conversation checklist; your professionals should tailor financial, tax and legal advice to your circumstances.