Whether it's a first baby, a second, or the slow realization that the starter home is getting tight, the question is usually the same: when do we move, and what should we buy?
Don't Buy for Today Only
Buying small on purpose feels responsible, and sometimes it is. But a second move has its own costs: another round of closing costs, another round of moving, and whatever the market has done in between. Before you decide a smaller home is the cheaper path, it's worth pricing out what "a few years" actually costs.
When to Start Looking
Earlier than you think, but later than the panic suggests. The nursery isn't the hard part. The timeline for finding, buying, and moving is. I'll help you work backward from the date you need to be in the house so you start at the right time and not the stressful one.
If You Have to Sell to Buy
Most move-up buyers need to sell the current home first. I'll map out the sequence for you: what your house is likely to sell for, how much you would bring to the next purchase, and the options for handling the overlap between the two.
You don't need to have it figured out. A first conversation is just numbers and options. No commitment and no pressure.