Lifestyle collection

Retirement & Downsizing Homes

Downsizing is a financial decision as much as a lifestyle one — the right property trades yard work and stairs for equity and simplicity, on your terms.

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Current listings in this collection

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For sale36

$679,000

8327 FRENCH STREET

1 bed1 bath515 sq ft

HouseMLS® R3127747

For sale36

$349,900

302 755 Hillside Ave

2 bed1 bath803 sq ft

HouseMLS® 1044589

For sale40

$429,000

908 6595 WILLINGDON AVENUE

1 bed1 bath738 sq ft

HouseMLS® R3145599

For sale6

$339,000

3001 13688 100 AVENUE

1 bed1 bath529 sq ft

HouseMLS® R3146772

For sale23

$529,000

503 33820 SOUTH FRASER WAY

2 bed2 bath799 sq ft

HouseMLS® R3116641

For sale15

Price on request

4510 HAXIFAX WAY

2 bed2 bath897 sq ft

HouseMLS® R3151858

What downsizing actually solves — and what it costs

Selling a larger home and buying a smaller one frees up equity without taking on debt, but it isn't free: real estate commission, moving costs, and — in BC — Property Transfer Tax on the new purchase all come off the top. Weigh that against the alternative of staying and borrowing against your equity instead.

A reverse mortgage lets homeowners 55 and older borrow against home equity (up to roughly 55% of value) with no required monthly payments, but the balance compounds over time and erodes the equity you'd otherwise leave behind. A HELOC (home equity line of credit) typically carries a lower rate but requires income qualification and monthly payments — which can be difficult against a fixed retirement income. Downsizing is debt-free by comparison, at the cost of leaving a home you may be attached to.

What to look for in a downsizing purchase

Elevator access, single-level layouts, and proximity to healthcare and transit tend to matter more here than square footage. Ask about the building's age demographic and whether it has an active social committee if community matters to you — some buildings genuinely skew toward long-term residents in a similar life stage, and some don't.

Common questions

Before you reach out

If yours isn't here, ask us directly — we'd rather answer it now.

Should I downsize, get a reverse mortgage, or take out a HELOC?

It depends on your income, how much you value staying in your current home, and your tolerance for compounding debt. Downsizing is debt-free and frees up the most cash but means leaving your home and paying transaction costs. A HELOC is usually cheaper than a reverse mortgage if your income can cover the payments; a reverse mortgage requires no income qualification or monthly payments but costs more over time. We're happy to talk through the trade-offs, and can refer you to a mortgage professional for the lending side.

Is a condo the only option for downsizing?

No — some buyers prefer a single-level rancher or a townhouse with the primary bedroom on the main floor. This collection focuses on apartment-style condos because they're the most common downsizing purchase (no yard, often elevator access), but we're glad to search more broadly against your specific list.

What should I ask about a building before I buy for retirement?

Elevator reliability, whether the unit is truly single-level (some "apartment"-style units are lofted), proximity to healthcare, and the strata's rules around guest suites or care worker access if that matters to your plans. We'll walk through the building's specifics with you.

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