2025 Home Seller’s Checklist: Is Now the Right Time for Your Next Move?

As a new year unfolds, many homeowners are rethinking their next steps. In 2025, they find themselves at a crossroads, navigating a complex real estate landscape shaped by high interest rates and evolving personal circumstances. The Federal Reserve’s recent decisions to pause interest rate cuts, as reported by the Associated Press, have significant implications for the housing market.

The unchanged rates—kept between 4.25%-4.5%— while not directly impacting mortgage costs, can dampen market activity, affecting buyers and sellers. As you contemplate selling your home, assessing how these economic factors align with your personal goals and life changes is more important than ever. Evaluating your current situation in light of market conditions will empower you to make informed decisions about your next move.

To help you confidently navigate this decision, we’ve compiled a comprehensive checklist that covers everything you need to consider before selling in 2025. From market trends to personal finances and plans, our guide will walk you through the key factors that can make or break your home-selling plans. Read on to see if now is the right time to sell your home—and how to set yourself up for success.

Empty Nest or Full House? Rightsizing in 2025

One of the biggest factors in deciding whether to sell your home is who currently lives in it—and how soon that might change. Maybe your kids have left for college, and you’re wondering if all that extra space is worth keeping. Or perhaps adult children have moved back in, your aging parents need to live with you, or you’re considering welcoming a new addition to the family. 

Family changes like these can have a major impact on your housing needs, and in 2025, understanding the broader market trends can help you make a more informed decision. This is what’s known in real estate as ‘rightsizing.’

Understanding the Impact of Family Changes on Housing

Your home should work for you, not the other way around. If your household size is changing, it’s worth evaluating:

• If There’s Excess Space: Many empty-nest households sit on homes with multiple unused bedrooms. That extra space is not only collecting dust; it means higher maintenance costs, bigger utility bills, and more work than you can –or want to manage. 

• If You Can Still Afford It (Beyond Your Mortgage Cost): Property taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs won’t shrink even if your household does. Selling and moving to a right-sized property could free up cash for travel, retirement, or other immediate priorities.

• If You’ll Need More Space in The Future: If you have kids or other family members moving back in, downsizing now might not be the best option. Instead, the answer may be upsizing or upgrading the space for a more flexible space to accommodate your growing household.

Your Market Matters

Where you live plays a big role in how easy—or challenging—it may be to sell your home. Cities with a high share of empty-nest households, like Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Cleveland, already have more affordable housing. If you wait too long to sell, you may find yourself in a seller’s market with stiff competition and bidding wars.

Conversely, if you’re in high-demand metros among millennials and Gen Zers, like Austin, San Jose, Denver, or Seattle, you’ll have many younger buyers actively looking for homes, but affordability would be a challenge. You’ll need to price your home moderately compared to the market to attract strong interest.

Should You Stay or Sell? 

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. It all depends on the specificities of your family and your short-term plans. To help decide if your home still fits your needs or if you should do an empty-nest home selling, answer these:

15 Questions To Determine If Your Home is The Right Size

Use this quick questionnaire to evaluate whether your home still fits your current and future needs. 

Household Changes & Space Needs

1. How many people currently live in your home?
2. Do you expect any household members to move out in the next 3-5 years?
3. Do you anticipate anyone (adult children, aging parents, extended family) moving in within the next few years?
4. How many bedrooms and bathrooms are currently in your home? Are they all regularly used?
5. Do you have extra rooms that serve little to no purpose?
6. Have you recently made changes to accommodate a growing or shrinking household?

Lifestyle & Functionality

7. Does your home still meet your daily lifestyle needs?
8. Do you feel like you have too much space, not enough, or just the right amount?
9. Are there areas of your home that go unused most of the time?
10. Does the layout of your home still make sense for your routine and mobility needs?

Financial & Maintenance Considerations

11. Are you spending more time or money than you’d like on home maintenance?
12. Would downsizing significantly reduce your housing costs, including utilities, taxes, and upkeep?
13. Considering your future income and financial plans, is your home still affordable in the long term?
14. If you sold your home, would you prefer a smaller space, a different layout, or a more convenient location?
15. Have you explored how selling your home could impact your financial flexibility for retirement, travel, or other goals?

The Eldercare Equation: Planning for Parents While Protecting Your Future

Another variable you need to consider in your home-selling plans is eldercare. In the United States, approximately 53 million adults provide care for an elderly parent, relative, or spouse, reflecting a significant increase from 43.5 million in 2015, according to a study conducted by Guardian. This includes caregivers who also work full-time.

Since 61% of U.S. households rely on two incomes, the growing demand for family members to step in as caregivers disrupts the economic balance, even in the best of times. However, this strain has intensified with rising inflation and other recent macroeconomic pressures, contributing to declining personal savings rates. 

As financial reserves shrink, many families with parents needing constant care might consider selling the parent’s home to cover expenses such as assisted living or in-home care. This decision can help aging parents receive the support they need while alleviating some caregiving burdens. 

Selling a Parent’s Home to Fund Eldercare

If this resonates with you and this is the road you’re taking, make these critical steps before making eldercare real estate decisions:

Get Legal Authority To Sell Your Parents’ Home

Being a child doesn’t automatically give you the legal right to sell your parents’ property. You need to gain authority to act on behalf of the legal owners through either a Power of Attorney (POA) or a court order, which can be a conservatorship. These two legal documents are dependent on your parent’s mental competency.

If your parent is mentally competent and agrees to give you the authority to sell their home, they can sign a power of attorney. On the contrary, if they lack mental capacity or refuse to grant you authority to sell the property, you’ll need the conservatorship. This will require you to go to court and have a judge appoint you as your parent’s conservator or guardian.

Evaluate The Potential Impact on Benefits

If your parents are currently receiving benefits such as Veterans Affairs (VA) and Medicaid, selling their home may affect their financial eligibility to continue receiving those or apply for other need-based government benefits in the near future. 

For example, to qualify for the basic VA pension in 2024, a veteran’s net worth—including countable assets and income—must be under $155,356. Their primary residence isn’t included in this calculation, but selling it could raise their net worth and make them ineligible for benefits.

As for Medicaid, the eligibility requirements vary by state, but many cap an individual’s assets at $2,000. A primary residence is usually exempt, but selling it to cover care costs could make a senior ineligible for Medicaid until they use up the proceeds.

Accurately Value The Home

Selling your parent’s home requires an accurate property valuation—not just to maximize their lifetime investment and secure the best possible care, but also to meet legal requirements and prevent potential financial or legal complications.

Understanding the home’s true market value is the first step in making an informed decision. Get a quick and reliable instant valuation from ez Home Search’s database of over 80 million U.S. properties to ensure you’re making the best financial choice for your and your parents’ future. 

The Emotional Factor

Selling your parents’ home is not just a financial decision; it’s also an emotional one. A family home often holds decades of memories, making the thought of parting with it feel like losing a piece of family history. A house also represents stability, independence, and a lifetime of hard work. 

Transitioning a loved one into assisted living or long-term care can feel like a role reversal, where children become the decision-makers. This shift can create stress and often sibling disagreements. Approach the process with empathy, open communication, and practical planning. Support from family, financial advisors, or eldercare professionals can be of great help. 

Exploring Multigenerational Living Arrangements

With eldercare needs come multigenerational living –a household where individuals of multiple generations coexist. According to the latest Census data, there were 6.0 million U.S. multigenerational households in 2020, up from 5.1 million in 2010. 

This arrangement provides emotional support, shared financial responsibilities, and more convenient caregiving alternatives. Still, it also requires thoughtful planning to ensure long-term success and the comfort and well-being of many people sharing one roof.

If you’re a homeowner transitioning to a multigenerational home or considering this lifestyle, you’ll need to adapt the property to meet everyone’s needs. Here’s how you can do it. 

4 Golden Tips For a Successful Transition To a Multigenerational Household

1. Balance personal space and privacy: One of the main challenges in multigenerational households is honoring personal space and privacy. Simple home improvements like creating separate entrances, adding an in-law suite, or turning a finished basement into an apartment can build independence while keeping the connection. Is remodeling not an option? Consider solutions like room dividers or designated quiet zones as boundaries.  

2. Think about mobility and accessibility: With aging parents moving in, the need for safety and accessibility increases. Modifications you may need to implement include:

• Single-level living is a must, or if you’re home has two or more stories, organize for them to be in a first-floor suite (bedroom + bathroom). 
• Even if there are no mobility issues, prepare with wheelchair ramps and stairlifts ahead of time. 
• For safety, install grab bars, make wider doorways, and modify showers to be step-free. 
• Most caregivers work full-time but also need to be on top of things. Smart-home tech advancements are necessary for emergency alerts and remote monitoring/assistance. 

3. Shared spaces must be functional: Well-designed, distributed shared spaces are going to be more important in multigenerational households than any other. Consider these ideas to promote bonding time and personal space:

• Kitchens are high-traffic areas in any home, so make sure yours is spacious enough or have multiple working stations to accommodate various cooking needs.
• Ad flexible seating arrangements for either large gatherings or quiet down time.
• Forget about clutter with extra storage solutions; everything is well organized, and traffic around the house is seamless. 

4. Be clear about financial and legal considerations: Families tend to avoid these topics because they are sensitive and drive many emotions. However, addressing them early is crucial. Take the leadership and plan for:

• Mortgage contributions: Are mortgage payments the responsability of the homeowner, or are others making contributions?
• Maintenance costs and utility payments: How will everyday expenses be divided?
• Estate planning: What happens to the home if one of the parents or the homeowner passes away?
• Organize any additional legal agreements: This will outline expectations and prevent disagreements.

Checklist: Selling a Home or Modify It for Eldercare Needs

Making the right housing decision for aging parents is no easy task. You must consider and balance care needs, finances, and long-term family dynamics. Use this checklist to estimate if 2025 is the right time to sell your home or if making improvements will suffice: 

Current and Future Care Needs

• The level of care my parents need right now is: independent living, assisted care, or full-time medical support. (Underline one option).
• I expect my parents’ needs to change dramatically in the next 5-10 years.
• My parent’s need for mobility-friendly modifications such as ramps, single-floor living, or grab bars has increased.
• Family members can care for my parents.
• My parents require professional caregiving services.

Your Home’s Suitability for Aging in Place

•  My home is single-level or can be easily modified to accommodate accessibility needs.
• My home has wide doorways, step-free showers, and easy entry points to support mobility challenges.
• Bedrooms and bathrooms are easily accessible without stairs.
•  Smart-home technology can be integrated into my home for safety and remote monitoring.
•  Renovations will be more cost-effective compared to alternative housing options. 

Your Financial Options

• How do the costs of home modifications compare to selling and purchasing a more accessible home?
• If selling, the proceeds will be enough to cover assisted living, in-home care, or other long-term care needs for my parents.
• Selling the home will impact my parents’ eligibility for Medicaid, veterans’ benefits, or other financial assistance programs.
• I have factored in ongoing property taxes, utilities, and maintenance expenses.
• Modifying the home will increase its resale value.
•  Modifying the home will most likely make it harder to sell in the future.

Family Dynamics and Lifestyle Adjustments

•  If transitioning to a multigenerational living arrangement, my current home will provide enough space and privacy for all family members.
• Caregiving responsibilities can be shared among family members. We are financially and emotionally prepared
• Moving my parents into my home will affect my own financial goals, work-life balance, and personal space.
• All family members have been consulted to ensure alignment on the decision.

Seek Legal and Financial Guidance

•  I have consulted an elder law attorney to discuss power of attorney, estate planning, and property transfer options. 
•  I have reviewed the tax implications of selling, transferring, or modifying the home.
•  If selling, I must settle outstanding debts, reverse mortgages, or liens before proceeding.
• I have explored financial assistance programs that could help cover care costs.

Examine Long-Term Viability

• The chosen housing option will still be suitable if your parent’s health declines.
•  The home is near healthcare facilities, family members, and essential services.
• Selling my home now will offer greater financial security than waiting until my parents’ care needs become more urgent. 
• If modifying, the home will remain a practical, comfortable living space for years to come.

Selling Your Home? Hire a Trusted Real Estate Expert

If your checklist responses lean toward the home-selling option, be proactive! Research your home’s market value and evaluate potential housing options that better fit your parent’s needs. A trusted real estate expert can guide you through this transition with what you need the most: clarity and confidence. Our ezHomeSearch partners offer:

• Accurate home valuations and local market insights
• Recommendations on value-boosting improvements
• Strategies for maximizing home equity
• Expert guidance on downsizing and multigenerational living options

Being proactive ensures you’re prepared when the time comes. Connect with a local expert today for personalized, no-pressure advice tailored to your situation.

Location, Location, Relocation: Is Your Home Still in the Right Spot?

The pandemic changed many aspects of our lives, and one of the most significant shifts was how and where we work. Remote work has redefined housing preferences, allowing homeowners to rethink their living situation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 1 in 5 workers (19.5%) teleworked or worked from home for pay in August 2023.

Remote work has reshaped job relocation trends. Without the need to live near their employer, remote workers now have the freedom to sell their current homes and move anywhere in the country. This flexibility has fueled migration to more affordable, high-opportunity areas, where homebuyers can stretch their budgets further and improve their quality of life.

According to the National Association of Realtors’ Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers 2024, the typical homebuyer moved 20 miles from their previous residence—less than the 50-mile median recorded in 2022 but still above the 15-mile average seen between 2018 and 2021, before the pandemic.

Most remote workers are moving away from high-cost states like California and New York in favor of affordable, business-friendly regions. NAR data shows that the states seeing the highest influx of workers include:

• Virginia
• Georgia
• Texas
• South Carolina
• Tennessee

What do these states have in common? Lower living costs, strong job markets, and fast-growing business environments making them attractive for remote workers looking to maximize their income and lifestyle.

How to Determine If Your Home Is Still The Right Place For You 

If you’re considering selling your home and relocating—whether for affordability, lifestyle, or the dream of working with an ocean view—ask yourself these key questions:

• Is my current location still the best fit for my remote work lifestyle?
• Would relocating give me a better work environment, such as more space or a quieter setting?
• Am I taking full advantage of remote work flexibility by living in a place that aligns with my personal and financial goals?
• Does my current location offer the internet reliability, co-working spaces, and professional networking opportunities I need?
• Would moving improve my access to outdoor spaces, climate, or daily conveniences that enhance my remote work experience?

For instance, comparing states like Georgia and Florida reveals that Georgia is approximately 3.8% cheaper than Florida in terms of overall cost of living. Expenses, including restaurants, groceries, housing, clothing, entertainment, and transportation, are generally lower in Georgia.

The Hidden Costs of Staying Put: When Not Selling Could Cost You

If, after arriving at this point, you’re still doubtful about whether to sell now or wait in 2025, let’s discuss the hidden costs of maintaining an old home, which can quickly inflate your budget more than you may expect. 

Between routine maintenance, unexpected repairs, and energy efficiency upgrades, staying put can cost you more in the long run than selling and moving into a newer, lower-to-upkeep property.

The Real Cost of Maintaining an Older Home

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey, homeowners spend an average of $3,192 annually on home maintenance and improvements. However, this figure varies significantly based on the home’s age and condition. See below what other sources reported:

• Angi’s 2023 State of Home Spending report states that homeowners who undertook home projects in 2023 spent an average of $13,667 in home improvement, maintenance, and emergency repairs of their homes. That’s a 6% increase from the previous year.
• The National Association of Home Builders reported in 2019 that homes built before 1960 have average annual maintenance costs of $564, while those built after 2008 average just $241 per year.

• Financial experts recommend budgeting 1% to 4% of your home’s value annually for upkeep. For example, if your home is valued at $300,000, you must proactively set aside $3,000 to $12,000 yearly.

Older homes often require big-ticket repairs like roof replacements, outdated plumbing and electrical overhauls, and HVAC system updates. These costs add up quickly, so you must weigh the long-term financial impact of staying put.

Selling vs Renovating 2025: Which Costs More?

If your home constantly requires costly repairs, selling might be the more financially sound decision. A newer home typically comes with lower upkeep costs, modern energy efficiency, and fewer unexpected repairs, saving you time and money in the long run. However, before deciding, it’s essential to factor in all the costs of selling and relocating, many of which homeowners tend to overlook.

The Cost of Moving & Setting Up a New Home

• Based on data from Moving.com, hiring professional movers costs an average of $1,250 for local moves and $4,890 for long-distance relocations, covering roughly 1,000 miles. These costs can be even higher if you have a large home or require additional services such as packing and storage.

• Furnisher estimates that furnishing a 1-bedroom home ranges from $8,500 to $15,500, while a 2-bedroom home ranges from $10,000 to $17,800. You may include additional costs in your budget if your new home has different room layouts or more space.

• Sources on the internet indicate that closing costs and agent commissions typically take up 6% to 10% of the home’s sale price. 

• Temporary housing and storage costs may arise if there’s a gap between selling your old home and moving into your new one. Short-term rentals, hotel stays, and storage fees can add unexpected expenses.

Would Selling Your Home in 2025 Can Save You Money in the Long Run?

Even with these expenses, the long-term savings from reduced maintenance, repairs, and lower utility bills in a newer home often outweigh the cost of staying in a house, draining your wallet and savings account with constant upkeep. A modern home may also have energy-efficient upgrades, cutting down heating, cooling, and water bills.

Leveraging Your Home’s Value in a High-Interest Market

Your home is more than just a place to live—it’s one of your most valuable financial assets. With home values remaining strong despite high interest rates, assess how much equity you’ve built and how to use it wisely. 

How Much Is Your Home Worth?

The first step in making informed decisions about your home’s equity is knowing its true market value. Use our free home valuation tool to uncover your home’s hidden potential with data from 80 million U.S. properties. Get your instant valuation here: ezHomeSearch Home Valuation.

Once you clearly understand your home’s worth, you can explore the best ways to leverage that value—whether you’re planning to sell or looking for ways to tap into your home equity while staying put.

Should You Tap Into Your Home Equity?

Even if you’re not ready to sell, your home’s equity can be a powerful financial tool. Homeowners today have record equity levels, with the average U.S. homeowner holding nearly $300,000 in tappable home equity (Bankrate). Instead of letting it sit unused, here are clever ways to leverage it:

Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)

A HELOC allows you to borrow against your home’s equity as needed, like a credit card. It’s a flexible option for funding renovations, consolidating debt, or handling unexpected expenses. However, your payments can fluctuate over time since HELOCs have variable interest rates.

Cash-Out Refinancing

With a cash-out refinance, you replace your existing mortgage with a new one—taking out more than you owe and receiving the difference in cash. This can be a good option for funding home improvements or other significant expenses, but refinancing could mean higher monthly payments in today’s high-rate environment.

Selling & Accessing Your Equity in Cash

If you’re considering downsizing, relocating, or moving into a lower-maintenance home, selling may be the best way to unlock your home’s equity without taking on additional debt. Many homeowners are cashing out their equity in a strong seller’s market and using the proceeds for a fresh start.

The 2025 Seller’s Crystal Ball: Predicting Your Home’s Future Value

Predicting your home’s future value is like forecasting the stock market, even tough players get it wrong. Zillow’s failed iBuying program is a prime example; despite using advanced data models, they couldn’t accurately predict home prices, ultimately losing $881 million before pulling out of the market. If corporations with massive resources struggle to predict future values, you, as a homeowner, shouldn’t rely on guesswork either.

While we have robust data at ez Home Search to estimate your home’s current market value, knowing what it will be worth down the road depends on countless factors—interest rates, buyer demand, economic conditions, and even shifts in local neighborhoods. That’s why working with a local real estate expert is key to making data-backed, informed decisions rather than gambling on an uncertain future.

Why a Local Expert Matters More Than an Algorithm

Like you’d consult a financial planner instead of guessing stock trends, a real estate expert provides insights that online calculators and market headlines simply can’t match. Here’s how they help:

• A True, Data-Driven Home Valuation: Online estimates provide a rough idea of your home’s worth, but a local expert factors in real-time market conditions, recent neighborhood sales, and unique property features. 
• Guidance on Home Improvements That Pay Off: Not every home upgrade increases value. A local expert knows what buyers in your area are looking for and can help prioritize projects with the highest ROI.
• Neighborhood-Specific Market Predictions: Broad housing forecasts don’t tell the full story. A local agent tracks buyer trends specific to your area, helping you understand whether it’s a good time to sell or if waiting could yield a better return. .

The Renovation Dilemma: To Fix or To Sell?

Deciding whether to renovate your current home or sell it and move to a new one is a significant decision that depends on various factors. To assist you in making an informed choice, consider the following decision matrix:

Which Renovations Add the Most Value?

If renovating makes sense for your situation, focus on upgrades with the highest ROI. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and Remodeling Magazine, these projects offer the best returns:

Some upgrades, like luxury kitchen overhauls or room additions, may not provide a strong return and can even overprice your home compared to similar listings in your area.

Pro Tip: Attending local open houses can give you a firsthand look at what features attract buyers in your area. You’ll see what’s in demand—whether it’s modern kitchens, updated bathrooms, or smart home features—helping you prioritize the improvements that impact the most. 

Tax Talk: How Selling in 2025 Could Affect Your Financial Future

Selling your home in 2025 can have significant tax implications, particularly concerning capital gains taxes. Understanding these potential liabilities is crucial for effective financial planning.

Capital Gains Tax Overview

When you sell a capital asset like real estate for more than its purchase price, the profit is considered a capital gain and may be subject to taxation. The tax rate depends on how long you’ve owned the property:

• Short-Term Capital Gains: For properties held one year or less, gains are taxed as ordinary income, with rates ranging from 10% to 37%, depending on your taxable income.
• Long-Term Capital Gains: For properties held more than one year, gains benefit from reduced tax rates, typically 0%, 15%, or 20%, based on your income level.

Primary Residence Exclusion

If the property you’re selling is your primary residence, you may qualify for a significant tax exclusion:

• Single Filers: Can exclude up to $250,000 of capital gains from taxable income.
• Married Filing Jointly: Can exclude up to $500,000.

To be eligible, you must have owned and lived in the home for at least two of the five years preceding the sale. This exclusion can be utilized once every two years.

Potential Tax Policy Changes

Tax policies are subject to change, and staying informed about any modifications that could affect your situation is not optional. While current capital gains tax rates are favorable, future legislative changes could alter rates later. Consulting with a tax professional can help you navigate these complexities.

The Expert Edge: 10 Questions to Ask Before Deciding to Sell

Selling your home in 2025  is more than just a financial transaction—it’s a life-changing decision. In today’s high-interest market, making the right choice requires more than simple gut instinct or general market trends. The smartest sellers ask the right questions before putting a “For Sale” sign in their yard.

Here are 17 questions to help you determine whether now is the right time to sell—and what your next steps should be.

1. If I don’t sell now, where will I be financially in 1, 3, or 5 years?
2. What’s my home worth right now?
3. Is my home still the right fit for my lifestyle?
4. What’s happening in my local market—beyond national headlines?
5. How much will it cost to sell—and can I afford it?
6. Is my home move-in ready, or will potential homebuyers see it as a project?
7. Who’s the best expert to guide me through this process?
8. How will selling affect my daily life—work, school, commute, and lifestyle changes?
9. What’s the risk of waiting? Could home values or mortgage rates work against me?
10. Am I emotionally prepared for the stress of staging, showings, negotiations, and moving?
11. What’s my ideal timeline for selling, and does it align with the market’s conditions?
12. If I receive an offer lower than expected, will I be willing to negotiate or walk away?
13. How will selling impact my credit, debt-to-income ratio, and future loan eligibility?
14. What kind of buyer is most likely to be interested in my home, and how do I attract them?
15. Will selling improve or limit my overall financial flexibility and investment opportunities?
16. How do I make my home stand out from similar listings in my area?
17. What’s my exit strategy if the market shifts or my plans suddenly change?

Final Takeaways: Should You Sell Your Home in 2025?

Market conditions matter, but your personal situation is just as important. While interest rates and buyer demand impact home values, the real question is whether your home still fits your needs. If your space no longer serves your lifestyle or financial goals, that may be a bigger factor than waiting for the “perfect” market conditions.

Wherever you are in your home-selling journey, we’re here to help:

• Uncover your home’s hidden potential: Get an instant valuation from our 80 million U.S. properties database.
• Crunch the numbers: Use our advanced refinance calculator to see if a new loan makes sense in today’s market. 
• Unlock the hidden value of open houses: Gain market insights, renovation ideas, and data on local trends by signing up for our open house alerts. 

Connect with your local expert: A trusted real estate advisor can help you stay informed, maximize your home’s value, and make the best financial moves.