Forget Downsizing: How Luxury Buyers Are Rightsizing Their Homes

Lucía Torres · 2026-10-02

## The New Way Affluent Buyers Are Choosing Homes The old playbook said downsizing was the answer. Sell the big family house, buy something smaller, call it a day. But that's not what's happening anymore, especially among buyers in their 50s and beyond who've already raised their families and built their careers. Instead, they're **rightsizing** — a completely different mindset. It's not about square footage. It's about intention. It's about choosing a home that fits the life you actually live now, not the life you lived 20 years ago. We talked to Aileen Comora, an award-winning real estate professional at The Agency and a native Angeleno, to understand how this shift is playing out across West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Malibu. She's been in the business for nearly 40 years, and she's watched this evolution firsthand. ### What Rightsizing Actually Means Here's how Comora breaks it down: > "Downsizing is simply going from a large home to a smaller home. Rightsizing is when a buyer is purchasing a home that fits their needs more intentionally, prioritizing features that they can manage and eliminating those they cannot." So what does that look like in practice? Maybe it's ditching the massive yard you never use. Maybe it's saying goodbye to the pool that costs a fortune to maintain. Maybe it's trading a sprawling estate for a lock-and-leave condo that lets you travel without worry. The point isn't to go smaller. The point is to go *smarter*. ### Why Buyers Are Making the Switch Comora says it's not just one thing driving this shift. It's a mix of lifestyle, finances, and personal priorities. For wealthier buyers, it's rarely about the money — though finances always matter. It's about freedom. "Perhaps the thought is to travel more," she explains. "Therefore the rightsizing means less upkeep and a much more manageable home to leave when traveling." Think about it. If you're spending six months a year traveling, why maintain a property that demands constant attention? Why pay for space you never use? Rightsizing means your home works for you — not the other way around. ### How Rightsizing Looks Different Across LA's Luxury Markets Each neighborhood has its own version of rightsizing, depending on what buyers value most. **West Hollywood:** This might mean moving from a single-family home to a condominium, or from a multi-level townhouse to a single-level unit. It's about simplifying without sacrificing location. **Beverly Hills:** Buyers here often want turnkey properties that are ready to move into. No renovations. No construction headaches. Just walk in, unpack, and start living. **Malibu:** Proximity to the beach becomes the priority. Or maybe it's finding a guard-gated community like Serra Retreat where you can keep horses. It's about matching the home to the lifestyle you actually want. ### Privacy, Style, and Special Spaces For entertainment industry clients, privacy isn't optional — it's essential. Comora says it's the number one concern, followed closely by style. But there are also practical needs. - A glam room with a separate entrance - A media room for screenings - A private gym These aren't luxuries for the sake of luxury. They're functional spaces that support how these clients actually live and work. ### What 'Turnkey' and 'Low-Maintenance' Really Mean When a client says they want turnkey, they mean it. They don't want to build or remodel. They want to decorate and move in. Low-maintenance is about reducing worry. Smaller yards. Maybe no pool at all. Hardscape and patios instead of gardens and lawns. It's about enjoying your home without being tied down by it. ### The Misconception That Trips People Up Here's something Comora often has to correct: square footage isn't measured the same way by everyone. Interior designers, architects, and appraisers all have different methods. "Sometimes I will show a property on the higher end of square footage because it will feel different once inside the room," she says. An open floor plan can feel larger than a home with traditionally dedicated rooms, even if the numbers say otherwise. But the biggest lesson she's learned over her career? Most buyers don't really know what they want until they see it. They scroll through photos, get curious, and then something clicks when they walk through the door. That's why rightsizing isn't a formula. It's a conversation. It's about understanding what matters to you now — and finding a home that fits that vision, not some outdated idea of what you should want. If you're in that next chapter of life, maybe it's time to stop thinking about downsizing and start thinking about rightsizing. Your future self will thank you.