Rightsizing vs Downsizing: What Luxury Buyers Really Want Now

Lucía Torres · 2026-10-02

### The Shift From Downsizing to Rightsizing Downsizing used to mean one thing: trading a big house for a smaller one. But today's luxury homeowners are rewriting that story. Instead of simply shrinking their square footage, they're choosing homes that fit their lives with intention. It's called rightsizing, and it's changing how real estate works in places like West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Malibu. We sat down with Aileen Comora, an award-winning agent at The Agency and a native Angeleno, to unpack what's driving this shift—especially among entertainment industry clients who are entering a new chapter. ### What Rightsizing Actually Means "Downsizing is simply going from a large home to a smaller home," Comora says. "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." In other words, it's not about less. It's about better. Maybe that means saying goodbye to a massive yard or a pool you never use. Maybe it means hello to a turnkey condo with a doorman and a gym. The goal is a home that works for you—not the other way around. ### Why Affluent Buyers in Their 50s and Beyond Are Making the Move Comora, who's been in the business for nearly 40 years, says it's a mix of lifestyle, finances, and personal priorities. For wealthier buyers, it's rarely just about money. It's about freedom. "Perhaps the thought is to travel more," she explains. "So rightsizing means less upkeep and a much more manageable home to leave when traveling." That could mean a lock-and-leave pied-à-terre in West Hollywood or a guard-gated equestrian property in Malibu's Serra Retreat. In Beverly Hills, it might mean trading a sprawling estate for a sleek single-level home with every amenity within arm's reach. ### How Rightsizing Looks Different in Each Market - **West Hollywood:** Moving from a house to a condo, or from a multi-level townhouse to a single-level unit. Sometimes it's even the reverse—buyers want more space but less maintenance. - **Beverly Hills:** Swapping a large traditional estate for a smaller, high-design home that's turnkey and private. - **Malibu:** Prioritizing proximity to the beach or finding a gated community where you can keep horses, like Serra Retreat. ### Privacy, Security, and the Entertainment Industry For clients in entertainment, privacy isn't a luxury—it's a requirement. "Privacy is number one, and then style," Comora says. They often need specific spaces: a glam room with a separate entrance, a media room, or a private gym. And when they say they want "turnkey" and "low-maintenance," they mean it. Turnkey means no remodeling—just decorating and moving in. Low-maintenance means hardscape patios instead of lawns, a smaller yard, and maybe no pool at all. ### The Misconception That Trips Up Buyers One big myth? That square footage tells the whole story. "Square footage is measured differently by different professionals," Comora notes. "An open floor plan can feel completely different from traditionally dedicated rooms." Her biggest lesson after decades in the business: most buyers don't really know what they want until they step inside. Photos can only tell you so much. The feel of a home—how it lives, how it flows—that's what matters. So if you're thinking about your next move, don't just think smaller. Think smarter. Think rightsized.