After our kids left the nest, we sold our house and bought a townhome. So far, downsizing has more pros than cons.

We sold our larger house so we could buy a smaller townhome and not have a mortgage.

Karen Bakar

• After our kids moved out, we sold our four-bedroom house and bought a townhome about half the size.
• Our life is simpler, and no longer having a mortgage has given us more money for other things.
• Still, we worry we gave up a valuable asset too soon, and two-story living will be tough as we age.

For my husband and me, the decision to sell our home in Walnut Creek, California, was years in the making.