What Size Home Should I Downsize To in the Greater Tulsa Area?

Smaller isn't the goal. A better fit is. The right size for your next home depends on how you want to live: whether you want single-level living, the hobbies you want room for, how much yard you want to maintain, and how many people will be living in the home. Start with those answers, and the right size usually becomes clear.

Whether you're downsizing in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Owasso, Collinsville, Coweta, Glenpool, or Catoosa, the question is the same: what does your next chapter actually need?

I'm Christina Shortsleeve, a REALTOR® with REMAX Results, and I help downsizers across the Greater Tulsa Area plan their whole move before anything goes on the market. Choosing the size of the next home is one of the first conversations I have with every downsizer.

Many downsizers start with a number in mind, like a certain square footage or fewer bedrooms. But a home that's simply smaller can still be the wrong fit if it doesn't match how you live day to day.

The goal of right-sizing is a home that fits your life now: easier to care for, with room for the things that matter to you, and without the space you no longer use.

These are the questions I always ask downsizers:

• Do you want single-level living? For many downsizers, avoiding stairs is one of the biggest reasons to move.
• What hobbies do you want room for? A workshop, a craft room, a garden, or space for an instrument can matter more than an extra bedroom.
• How much yard do you want to maintain? Some downsizers want a small garden. Others want as little yard work as possible.
• How many people will be living in the home? This shapes how many bedrooms and bathrooms you truly need.

Every downsizer's answers are different, and that's the point. Your answers, not a general rule, decide the size of your next home.

Deciding on the size of your next home is part of the first step of my Right-Size Transition System: Understand, Map the Move, Prepare, Coordinate, and Transition. It maps your whole move before anything is listed.

Knowing the size you're moving into also makes the rest of the move easier. It helps you decide what to keep, which is often the hardest part of downsizing. My article on what to do with everything you've collected can help with that, and my article on whether to sell first or buy first walks through the timing.

• Choosing a number instead of a fit. Square footage alone doesn't tell you whether a home works for your life.
• Forgetting about hobbies. The activities you enjoy need space, too.
• Underestimating yard work. A yard that looks manageable on a tour can feel different every weekend.
• Sorting before knowing the size. Deciding on the size of your next home first makes it much easier to decide what to keep.

How do I know what size home to downsize to?

Start with how you want to live: whether you want single-level living, the hobbies you want room for, how much yard you want to maintain, and how many people will be living in the home.

Is smaller always better when downsizing?

No. Smaller isn't the goal. A better fit is.

Should I look for a single-level home?

For many downsizers, single-level living is one of the biggest priorities. It's one of the first questions I ask.

When should I decide on the size of my next home?

Early, before you start sorting belongings or looking at homes. It makes every decision after it easier.

If you're thinking about downsizing, start with my page on downsizing in the Greater Tulsa Area, and when you're ready, send me a message. I'll walk through these questions with you and help you map out what your next home should look like, on a timeline that fits your life.

Christina Shortsleeve is a REALTOR® with REMAX Results in the Greater Tulsa Area, helping first-time buyers and downsizers buy and sell with a clear plan. She has sold 127 homes since 2020.