Unfortunately, our homes don’t always grow with us. What may have initially worked fine for a single person,

a young couple’s starter home, or a family with a newborn can quickly become too small as families expand and

multiple generations live under one roof.

Remodeling and adding to your home is one option for creating more space, but it can be costly, and the size of

your property may be prohibitive. That’s when moving to a bigger home becomes the best solution.

WHERE DO YOU NEED MORE SPACE?

The first thought when upsizing your home is to simply consider square footage, bedrooms, and bathrooms.

But it’s important to take a more critical approach to how your space will actually be used. If you have younger

children (or possibly more on the way), then focusing on bedrooms and bathrooms makes sense. But if your

children are closer to heading off to college or starting their own families, it may be better to prioritize group spaces

like the kitchen, dining room, living room, and outdoor space—it’ll pay off during the holidays or summer vacations

when everyone is coming to visit for big gatherings.

MOVING OUTWARD

If you need more space, but don’t necessarily want a more expensive home, you can probably get a lot more house for

your money if you move a little further from a city center. While the walkability and short commutes of a dense

neighborhood or condo are hard to leave beyond, your lifestyle—and preferences for hosting Thanksgiving,

barbecues, and birthdays—might mean that a spacious home in the suburbs makes the most sense. It’s your best option

for upsizing while avoiding a heftier price tag.