If you have a low mortgage rate, you may feel as though moving would be financially foolish. That rate is valuable. It deserves a place in the conversation. It just cannot answer every question about your life.
I once spoke with someone who was thinking of selling, and my advice was to look carefully at whether moving made sense for them. A real estate agent should be able to help you consider staying, too.
Start by comparing complete monthly costs, rather than interest rates alone. What does your current home cost after the mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs, and upkeep? What would the next place cost after all of those items, including any HOA dues? What would you pay to sell, move, and buy? Those numbers deserve careful, current estimates.
Then look at the part that won’t appear neatly on a spreadsheet. Does the current house require work you can no longer comfortably manage? Is it far from family or the life you want? Is its layout becoming difficult? Would moving give you time, connection, or peace that you cannot create where you are?
Also ask whether you can solve the problem without moving. You might adapt the home, hire help, or use the rooms differently. Keeping a favorable mortgage may be the right decision for now.
There is no universal rule that says you must hold onto a low rate forever, and no rule that says you should move because you’re entering a new chapter. The useful question is: What does staying give me, what does it cost me, and what would a move make possible?
If you are considering a move, I can help you understand the real estate side of those choices. Then you can make a decision that accounts for your money and your actual life.
Chrysti Tovani is a Fair Oaks real estate advisor, life-transition specialist, and the author of Downsizing with Intention. Her work is built around one idea: making room for what comes next. Through The Making Room Framework™, she helps people sell long-held homes, downsize with clarity, and move through major life changes with confidence, care, and a real plan.
With decades of experience across real estate, mortgage, and title, Chrysti brings deep industry knowledge and thoughtful preparation to every move. She is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES) and a Certified Probate and Trust Real Estate Specialist, and her approach blends strategic marketing, skilled negotiation, and emotional intelligence so each transition is handled with both precision and heart.
Chrysti is also the founder of I Love Fair Oaks, a hyperlocal media platform celebrating trusted businesses and community life in Fair Oaks, California, a beloved Sacramento County community known for its historic village, the American River Parkway, and a small-town feel that keeps people here for decades. She has called it home for more than 35 years. Chrysti is a licensed REALTOR® with eXp Realty of California, DRE #01118449.
