September 2023: Good Things Come in Small(er) Packages

3 min readSep 15, 2023

Here’s the Story:

It’s hard not to fall in love with New York City townhomes. Whether brownstone or limestone, modernized or carefully restored, it’s easy to romanticize owning your very own building! But what comes with large-scale living are large-scale commitments of time and money. And what if you have better plans for those? Read on.

Down to the Nitty-gritty:

In the lifecycle of real estate, a growing family might push you to want a bigger space. But sometimes we take on too much house. Sometimes, our needs change, and we find we are spending time and money on a house that is larger and more cumbersome than necessary. In which case, downsizing can be the answer. Doing so releases equity tied up in that larger property, giving you a cash infusion that you can use for college tuition or retirement. Plus, the lower monthly expenses associated with a smaller property means you can redirect funds toward travel or other investments. Which brings me to my next point — a smaller home is also a good option for those of you at an earlier stage of the real estate lifecycle. If you’re a newer buyer and you’ve noticed that your dollar doesn’t go as far with today’s higher interest rates, a smaller footprint might be a good solution. Not only will it save you money, but a smaller home will mean less time spent on upkeep and more time spent enjoying life.

What’s the Takeaway?

Making a smooth transition from one home to another can be challenging. Downsizing means having to declutter, which can feel overwhelming. Furthermore, the same market that will make it easier to sell might make it difficult to buy, especially if you’re committed to staying in the same neighborhood. If you’re looking for assistance navigating these issues, please reach out! We can explore your options and help you make the transition as stress-free and seamless as possible.

The Gabriele Moment

This month, Marc and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, and it had me thinking about how far we’ve come. Back when we first came to NYC in 1999, no one was eager to rent an apartment to two young people with no US credit history. Luckily, we made a connection with a landlord in Park Slope whose parents were from Germany. We grew roots in this amazing community. Our two kids were born here. Over time, we were able to buy our first apartment. And even though it was an absolute rollercoaster where everything that could go wrong did (ask me someday about those first weeks when we showered with the backyard hose), it was a step in the right direction. We started investing in real estate, and eventually, I turned that passion into a profession. I love helping people find their dream homes. In 2013, we moved into ours. I’m so grateful for this journey that we’re on, and I can’t wait to see what the next 25 has in store!

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