Forget Downsizing: Why Luxury Buyers Are 'Rightsizing' Instead

Lucía Torres · 2026-10-02

### The New Wave of 'Rightsizing' in Luxury Real Estate Downsizing used to mean moving to a smaller home. But for many affluent homeowners, that idea is outdated. Instead, they're "rightsizing" – choosing a home that fits their current lifestyle, not just a smaller footprint. We sat down with Aileen Comora, an award-winning real estate pro at The Agency and a native Angeleno, to understand how this shift is reshaping markets like West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Malibu – especially for entertainment industry clients entering their next chapter. ### What Exactly Is 'Rightsizing'? "Downsizing is simply going from a large home to a smaller home," Comora explains. "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, like a large yard or pool." So it's not about square footage. It's about aligning your home with how you actually live. ### What's Driving the Shift? After nearly 40 years in the business, Comora sees it as a mix of lifestyle and finances – but not in the way you might think. For wealthy buyers, it's rarely about saving money. It's 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 says. In other words, they want a lock-and-leave lifestyle without sacrificing luxury. ### How Rightsizing Looks in Different Markets - **West Hollywood:** Moving from a house to a condo, or from a multi-level townhouse to a single-level home. Sometimes even the reverse. - **Malibu:** Buyers might want to be closer to the beach, or they might seek a guard-gated community where they can keep horses – like Serra Retreat. - **Beverly Hills:** Often about privacy and specific amenities, like a separate-entry glam room or a media room. ### Privacy and Security for Entertainment Clients For clients in the entertainment industry, privacy is non-negotiable. "Privacy is number one, and then style," Comora notes. They often need specific spaces: a glam room with its own entrance, a media room, or a gym. ### Turnkey and Low-Maintenance – Without Compromise When clients say they want "turnkey" and "low-maintenance," they mean move-in ready with no remodeling. Low-maintenance translates to: - A smaller yard - Possibly no pool - Hardscape and patios instead of gardens and lawns - Less to worry about overall ### A Common Misconception One thing Comora often corrects: square footage isn't everything. "Square footage is also measured differently by different professionals," she says. "Sometimes I will show a property on the higher end of square footage because it will feel different once inside the room." An open floor plan, for example, can feel larger than its actual size. ### The Biggest Lesson After decades in real estate, Comora has learned that most buyers don't really know what they want until they see it. "They will see photos and be curious to look at a property," she says. That's why working with a seasoned agent who understands your lifestyle – not just your budget – is key. Rightsizing isn't about less. It's about more of what matters to you.