Rightsizing: The Luxury Real Estate Shift Redefining Home

Lucía Torres · 2026-10-02

The word "downsizing" has a certain ring to it, doesn't it? It sounds like a step back, a compromise. But what if there's a smarter, more intentional way to move? That's where "rightsizing" comes in. ### What Exactly Is Rightsizing? I recently spoke with Aileen Comora, an award-winning real estate pro with The Agency and a native Angeleno, to unpack this shift. She's been in the business for nearly 40 years, so she's seen every trend come and go. According to Aileen, the difference is simple but profound. > "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 it's not about square footage. It's about lifestyle. ### Why Are Affluent Buyers Making the Switch? Aileen says it's a mix of factors. For those in higher wealth brackets, it's less about finances and more about freedom. "Perhaps the thought is to travel more and therefore the 'rightsizing' means less upkeep and a much more manageable home to leave when traveling," she explains. These buyers have already lived the big-family-home life. Now they want turnkey design, privacy, and amenities that actually serve their current interests—not a big yard they'll never use. ### How Does Rightsizing Look in Different Markets? Aileen works across West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Malibu, and she says the definition shifts by neighborhood. - **West Hollywood:** Moving from a single-family home to a condo, or from a multi-level townhouse to a single-level unit. - **Malibu:** Prioritizing proximity to the beach or finding a guard-gated community like Serra Retreat where you can keep horses. In Beverly Hills, it might mean trading a sprawling estate for a lock-and-leave pied-à-terre that's still in the heart of the action. ### Privacy and Security for Entertainment Clients Many of Aileen's clients work in entertainment, so privacy is non-negotiable. "Privacy is number one, and then style," she says. They often need specific spaces like a glam room with a separate entrance, a media room, or a gym. But that doesn't mean they want to sacrifice luxury. They want turnkey and low-maintenance without giving up the good stuff. ### What "Turnkey" and "Low-Maintenance" Really Mean When clients say they want turnkey, they mean they don't want to build or remodel—they just want to move in and maybe decorate. Low-maintenance translates to less to worry about: a smaller yard, maybe no pool, and hardscape patios instead of gardens and lawns. ### A Common Misconception About Rightsizing Aileen often finds herself correcting one big misconception: that square footage tells the whole story. "Square footage is also measured differently by different professionals—interior designers, architects, appraisers—so 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 much larger than a traditional layout with dedicated rooms. ### The Bottom Line After decades in the business, Aileen has learned that most buyers don't really know what they want until they see it. But with the right guidance, they can find a home that truly fits—not just their budget, but their life. Rightsizing isn't about less. It's about more of what matters.