How Do I Choose Where to Live Next?

Start with how you want your days to look, and then pick the kind of home that fits them: a condo, a townhome, a single-level home, a 55-and-older community, a place near family, or a rental for a while. Then decide how the purchase fits with your sale.

I am Delia Bayna, a REALTOR with eXp Realty in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES). This is the question that makes a move feel possible, and here is how I help people answer it.

Most people start by looking at listings. I suggest starting with a normal Tuesday five years from now. Where are you in the morning? Who do you see? What do you still want to do, and what are you glad to be done with?

Write down what you hear yourself say. "I want to walk to the store." "I never want to shovel again." "I want the grandkids to be able to stay over." Those sentences become your list, and your list picks the house.

Then sort the list into must-haves and nice-to-haves. Most people find they have three or four true must-haves. The rest can bend.

Here is what each kind of home usually offers. Every property is different, so check the details on any home you look at.

• A condo. Often one level, and the HOA usually handles the outside, the roof, and the snow. Some buildings have elevators. You share walls, and there are rules.
• A townhome. More room than many condos, often with a small yard or patio. Many have stairs, so look for one with the main bedroom on the ground floor if stairs are a concern.
• A single-level home. No stairs to climb, and a yard of your own. You still handle the upkeep, or pay someone to.
• A 55-and-older community. A neighborhood or building set up under rules that let it limit most homes to households with at least one person 55 or older. Many have an HOA that covers yard care and snow removal, and some have a clubhouse. Read the rules before you buy.
• Closer to family. Any of the above, picked for where it is.
• Renting for a while. Gives you time to learn an area before you buy, and lets you sell first without rushing into the next purchase.

These are the questions I would put in front of you before you tour anything:

• How many stairs can I live with in ten years, not just today?
• Who will handle the snow, the yard, and the roof?
• How far do I want to drive to see family, my doctor, and my friends?
• Do I want a guest room, or would a nearby hotel do for visits?
• What monthly payment, including any HOA fee, still leaves room for the rest of my life?

On that last one, look closely at HOA fees. Ask what the fee covers and whether the HOA has money set aside for big repairs. A high fee with little to show for it can cost you more each month than a higher price would.

In Utah, "closer to family" often means a short drive up or down the Wasatch Front. A move from Salt Lake City to Davis County or Utah County can put you near grandkids and still near the places you know. Before you decide, drive the route you would take to see the people who matter to you, and drive it again on a snowy day.

Winter belongs on your list. Look at the driveway slope, how far you would walk from the car to the door, and who clears the walks. A steep driveway or a long set of front steps that seemed fine in October can be a real worry in January.

Some older Salt Lake City neighborhoods, like the Avenues, sit on hills. Many homes in Sugar House and other older areas have basements and stairs. Newer single-level homes and condos are spread across the valley and north into North Salt Lake and Farmington. Tour a few kinds before you narrow it down.

Write your Tuesday, make your must-have list, and tour two or three different kinds of homes before you fall for one. Seeing a condo and a single-level home in the same afternoon teaches you a lot about what you want.

Then look at the money. Find out what you would walk away with from your sale, which I explain in what will I actually walk away with. Then decide how the two moves fit together. I lay out the options in how to buy and sell at the same time. If you are still sorting what will come with you, start with what to do with furniture your kids don't want.

Once we are working together, I call and email every Friday, whether there is news or not. I taught for eighteen years, and I still hand people good questions before I hand them answers. My downsizing page shows how I plan the sale and the next home as one move. Where you land is your call.

Should I buy a condo or a single-level home when I downsize?

It depends on how much upkeep you want. A condo often comes with an HOA that handles the outside and the snow. A single-level home gives you a yard and more privacy, along with the upkeep.

What is a 55-and-older community?

It is a neighborhood or building set up to limit most homes to households with at least one person 55 or older. Each one has its own rules and fees, so read them before you buy.

Is it a good idea to rent after selling my house?

For some people, yes. Renting lets you sell first and take your time choosing the next place. It also means paying rent and moving twice.

What should I ask about an HOA?

Ask what the fee covers, whether it has gone up lately, and whether the HOA has money set aside for big repairs.