The Home You Love. The Life You're Ready For.
Whether you're ready for less maintenance, considering a move to assisted living, or helping a parent navigate an important transition, thoughtful planning can make all the difference.
Downsizing isn't simply about moving into a smaller home. It's about understanding your options, preparing for the decisions ahead, and creating a plan that supports the life you want to live.
Your Guide to Downsizing, Simplifying, and Planning Your Next Move
A complimentary guide containing practical planning information, exercises, and worksheets to help you approach an important transition with greater clarity.
Get Your Complimentary Next Chapter Starter Kit™
A thoughtful starting point for exploring your options and planning what comes next.
What's Inside the Next Chapter Starter Kit™?
The Next Chapter Starter Kit™ brings together practical guidance and thoughtful exercises to help you approach an important transition with greater clarity.
Is Your Current Home Still the Right Fit?
Questions to help evaluate your current living situation, lifestyle, maintenance responsibilities, and priorities.
Five Steps to Begin Downsizing
A manageable approach to preparing for a transition without becoming overwhelmed.
Letting Go Without Regret
Thoughtful exercises for navigating the emotional side of downsizing and deciding what to keep.
Understanding the Financial Picture
Educational considerations involving home equity, selling expenses, replacement housing costs, and ongoing expenses.
Planning a Later-Life Transition
Guidance for older homeowners and adult children evaluating assisted living and other supportive living arrangements.
Coordinating Your Next Move
Important considerations for timing the sale of a home and securing the next living arrangement.
Vendor Evaluation Matrix
Vendor comparison worksheets and questions to help you evaluate estate liquidators, packers, and movers, with attention to your priorities, belongings, and personal preferences.
Your Next Chapter Planning Worksheets
Practical tools for organizing priorities, questions, decisions, and next steps.
Three Distinct Paths. One Caring Guide.
Every transition has unique considerations. Select the path that mirrors your stage to see how Leilani and Civitas Realty can help. You may identify with more than one path — that's perfectly normal.
Lifestyle Downsizing
Less Upkeep. More Freedom.
For homeowners who want a simpler lifestyle, less maintenance, fewer responsibilities, or a home that better suits their changing priorities.
Empty nesters, recent retirees, couples seeking simplicity without sacrificing elegance.
Important Considerations for This Path
These considerations are part of the planning process. Leilani helps clients work through each one as part of a personalized real estate plan and may recommend appropriate outside professionals when needed (for example, estate liquidators, movers, senior move managers, financial advisors, tax professionals, or attorneys).
Your Transition Concierge™
A major life transition often involves more than a real estate transaction. There may be years of memories to consider, important financial decisions to make, family members to coordinate, and questions about what comes next. Through Your Transition Concierge™, Leilani Serrao-Baker helps homeowners and families approach the real estate aspects of these decisions with thoughtful preparation, clear communication, and a carefully considered strategy.
Your Next Chapter Real Estate Plan
A personalized discussion of your goals, timing, property considerations, and the real estate decisions involved in your transition.
Understanding Your Home's Market Position
A thoughtful evaluation of your property's current market position, potential value, and selling considerations.
Preparing Your Home for Sale
Guidance on prioritizing repairs, improvements, presentation, and marketing preparation without unnecessary work or expense.
A Thoughtful Marketing Strategy
A property-specific marketing approach designed to reach appropriate buyers and support informed selling decisions.
Coordinating the Real Estate Timeline
Planning the listing, sale, closing, and related transaction milestones around your anticipated next move.
Guidance on Outside Resources
Helping you identify the types of qualified professionals and service providers who may be appropriate for your situation, such as estate liquidators, movers, senior move managers, financial advisors, tax professionals, or attorneys.
Clients select and engage outside providers separately unless specific arrangements are established. Civitas Realty does not guarantee the availability, services, or outcomes of any outside provider.
Ready to Talk Through Your Plan?
Schedule a Complimentary Next Chapter Plan Session with Leilani to discuss your goals, timeline, and the real estate decisions involved in your transition.
Meet Leilani Serrao-Baker
Founder and Realtor | Civitas Realty
Leilani Serrao-Baker is the Founder and Realtor at Civitas Realty, serving Dana Point and South Orange County.
Her approach combines local market knowledge, thoughtful preparation, negotiation strategy, and personalized guidance.
For homeowners considering downsizing or navigating a significant life transition, Leilani understands that the decisions extend beyond the sale of a property. Timing, family considerations, financial planning, and the emotional significance of a longtime home can all influence the path forward.
Through Your Transition Concierge™, she helps homeowners and families navigate the real estate aspects of these transitions with clarity, care, and a plan tailored to their circumstances.
Common Downsizing Questions in South Orange County
When should I begin planning a downsizing transition?
Planning early can provide more options and time to make thoughtful decisions. Some homeowners begin exploring their choices many months before moving, while others need to respond to a more immediate change in circumstances. The appropriate timeline depends on your goals, housing needs, financial considerations, and the condition of your current home.
What should I do with furniture and belongings that won't fit in my next home?
Begin by identifying what you want to keep, what may be meaningful to family members, and what could be sold, donated, or otherwise handled. Estate liquidators, professional organizers, movers, and senior move managers may be helpful depending on your circumstances. The Next Chapter Starter Kit includes vendor comparison worksheets and questions to help you evaluate potential providers.
How might California Proposition 19 affect my property taxes if I downsize?
California Proposition 19 provides certain eligible homeowners with opportunities to transfer their property's taxable value to a qualifying replacement residence, subject to applicable requirements and limitations. Eligibility and financial implications depend on individual circumstances. Consult the appropriate county assessor and qualified tax professionals before making decisions.
What if I'm helping a parent move into assisted living?
Begin by understanding your parent's preferences, care needs, financial considerations, and the anticipated timing of the move. When a longtime home may need to be sold, the real estate plan should be coordinated with the family's broader decisions. Leilani can help with the property-sale considerations while families consult appropriate care, legal, and financial professionals.
Should I sell my current home before finding the next one?
That depends on your financial circumstances, housing options, timeline, and comfort with uncertainty. Selling first, buying first, and coordinating both transactions each involve different considerations. Reviewing the options before making commitments can help you choose an approach that fits your situation.
Your Next Chapter Begins With a Plan.
Whether a move is on the horizon or you're simply beginning to explore what's possible, having the right information can help you make decisions with greater confidence. Start with the complimentary Next Chapter Starter Kit™, or schedule a personal conversation to discuss your circumstances.