Ann Arbor · Downsizing
Downsizing to a smaller home in Ann Arbor
A plan for selling the home you've lived in for years and moving to one that fits your life now.
Downsizing to a smaller Ann Arbor home, and staying close
Downsizing to a smaller Ann Arbor home doesn't have to mean leaving the city you know. You can stay close to downtown theaters, the Huron River, Nichols Arboretum, and the places you go every week.
The move is two decisions at once: selling the home you've lived in for years and choosing the next one. A plan for both, made before anything goes on the market, keeps you from being stuck between two houses.
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Finding one-floor living in Ann Arbor
If stairs are part of the reason you're moving, Ann Arbor has good options. There are neighborhoods of 1950s ranches close to downtown, so you can keep a short drive to the places you love. Orchard Hills, in north Ann Arbor, has ranch homes from the 1960s and 1970s and a neighborhood pool residents can join in summer.
Smaller older homes near downtown are another option, but look carefully. On the Old West Side, most homes are two stories, and not every one has a garage. In Water Hill, some homes have just two bedrooms. I'll help you weigh the walk to downtown against the stairs and upkeep of an older home.
Selling the home you've lived in for years
Your price comes from the homes that sold on nearby streets, not from what you paid or what the house has meant to you. We look at those sales side by side and price your home together.
Before the photographer comes, we walk through the house and decide what's worth doing. In a long-owned home, small changes like clearing surfaces and letting in light usually matter more than big projects. Read more about how I prepare a home for photos.
The order of your moves
Some sellers buy the next home first and sell afterward. Others sell first and plan where to stay in between. We decide the order with your lender before your home is listed, and you set the pace. Nobody gets rushed.
Talk through downsizing
If you're thinking about downsizing in Ann Arbor, call me or send a note. We'll start with what your home is worth and what your next home could look like. You can also compare downsizing in Saline or downsizing in Plymouth, both with condos, or read my page on downsizing across the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find one-floor homes in Ann Arbor?
There are neighborhoods of 1950s ranches close to downtown, and Orchard Hills in north Ann Arbor has ranch homes from the 1960s and 1970s.
Are older homes near downtown a good choice for downsizing?
They can be, but look carefully. Many Old West Side homes are two stories, and not every one has a garage.
Do I have to buy my next home before I sell?
No. We decide the order with your lender before your home is listed, and you set the pace.
Ann Arbor
What downsizing looks like in Ann Arbor
A university city on the Huron River, with century-old homes near downtown, 1950s ranch neighborhoods, mid-century modern homes in Ann Arbor Hills, and culture all year.
- The homes
- Older homes within walking reach of downtown, plus neighborhoods of 1950s ranches that are also close in.
- Why people choose it
- A city built around the University of Michigan, where town and campus flow into each other. Ann Arbor is known as Tree Town, and it's a very environmentally conscious place.
- Getting around
- A very bike-friendly city, with many dedicated bike lanes. On University of Michigan football Saturdays, plan to avoid driving near Michigan Stadium from about two hours before kickoff until about two hours after the game ends.
- Nearby
- Downtown theaters and music venues, including the State Theatre, the Michigan Theater, The Ark, the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, and Hill Auditorium, plus the University of Michigan Museum of Art. The original Zingerman's Deli on Detroit Street, the Huron River, and the trails and peony garden at Nichols Arboretum.
- The trade-off
- Downtown can be busy, especially near campus on State Street, and football Saturdays take over the city.
The method
How we do it in Ann Arbor
Downsizing: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Nancy Arnold?