Highland Village Downsizing Guide for Empty Nesters
July 23, 2026
July 23, 2026
Are you starting to look around your home and wonder if it still fits this next chapter of life? If your kids are gone, the rooms feel a little too quiet, or the upkeep feels bigger than it used to, you are not alone. Downsizing in Highland Village can help you simplify your day-to-day life, protect your equity, and stay close to the places you know well. Let’s dive in.
Highland Village is the kind of place where many homeowners stay for years, which makes downsizing a very real conversation for empty nesters. Census QuickFacts estimates 16,137 residents in 2025, with a 91.9% owner-occupied housing rate and 16.8% of residents age 65 or older. The city also lists a median age of 45, which points to a community with many long-term homeowners entering a new season of life.
This is also a primarily residential city with lake access, trails, parks, and a familiar retail corridor along FM 407 and FM 2499. If you want less maintenance without leaving the area you love, that matters. You may be able to simplify your home without giving up your routines, favorite views, or easy access to the broader North DFW area.
Downsizing is not only about moving into fewer square feet. It is about choosing a home that fits the way you live now. For some homeowners, that means less yard work and fewer unused rooms. For others, it means a layout that feels easier to manage today and more practical for the future.
Before you look at homes, get clear on what you want your next chapter to feel like. Ask yourself whether your main goal is lower upkeep, easier mobility, staying close to friends and family, or unlocking equity from your current home. When you know your goal, every decision gets easier.
One of the most important downsizing steps is comparing your current carrying costs with the likely costs of your next home. In Highland Village, the FY 2025-2026 total area combined tax rate is 1.804722 per $100 of valuation. That includes Lewisville ISD at 1.1178, Denton County at 0.185938, and the city at 0.500984.
If you are age 65 or older or disabled, the city states that you can apply for a $75,000 exemption on the city portion of valuation through the Denton County Appraisal District. Texas also provides important homestead benefits. The Texas Comptroller says school districts must provide a $140,000 residence homestead exemption, and homeowners age 65 or older or disabled qualify for an additional $60,000 school-district exemption.
A common mistake is assuming your current homestead exemption will automatically move with you. In Texas, residence homestead exemptions are tied to your principal residence. The exemption applies only to the property you own and occupy as your main home, and you cannot claim it on another property in the same year.
That means if you buy a smaller replacement home, you should expect to file a new homestead application for that property. The Texas Comptroller says the general deadline to file is before May 1 with the appraisal district in the county where the home is located. Denton County also notes that collection of taxes on a homestead may be deferred for an owner age 65 or older or disabled.
For many empty nesters, this is the biggest planning question. If you are relying on equity from your current home to fund your next purchase, your sale may need to drive the entire timeline. NAR’s 2025 buyer and seller report found that 54% of repeat buyers used proceeds from the sale of a previous home to finance the next purchase.
That does not mean there is one right answer for everyone. It means your timing should reflect your cash needs, comfort level, and housing options. If you want a smoother move, it helps to map out your likely sale proceeds, expected replacement-home budget, and how much overlap you can tolerate between the two homes.
Downsizing often takes more prep than homeowners expect, especially if you have lived in the same home for many years. NAR’s 2025 seller data says the typical home seller was 64 and had owned the home for 11 years. That tells you something important: selling later in life is usually emotional as well as financial.
Give yourself more time than you think you need. Realtor.com’s 2026 Best Time To Sell report says 53% of sellers needed one month or less to get a home ready to list, but that kind of timeline can feel tight when you are also sorting decades of belongings. Starting early gives you more control and less stress.
If your house feels too full to tackle, start small and stay consistent. Downsizing is easier when you sort by purpose instead of by room. Focus on what you use now, what you truly want to keep, and what belongs in the next home.
A simple plan can help:
When you have lived in a home for a long time, it can be hard to see it through a buyer’s eyes. That is where staging helps. NAR defines staging as decluttering and styling a home so buyers can picture themselves living there.
According to NAR’s 2025 consumer guide, 83% of buyers’ agents believe staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize the property. More than a quarter of agents said staging produced 1% to 10% more in the dollar value offered, and about half of seller’s agents said staged homes sold faster. Their practical advice includes packing away personal items, using neutral paint, removing bulky furniture, keeping closets about half full, and making the entry feel clean and uncluttered.
Even in an active market, your home still needs the right strategy. Realtor.com’s June 2026 Highland Village market snapshot showed a median listing price of $665,000, 74 homes for sale, a median of 31 days on market, and homes selling at about 100% of asking price on average. That is encouraging, but it does not mean every home will get the same result.
If your goal is to downsize without leaving money on the table, pricing and presentation should work together. A well-prepared home can help you protect the equity you plan to use for your next move. That is especially important when your current sale is the key to your buying power.
Some empty nesters want to leave Highland Village altogether, but many simply want a home that asks less of them. If staying local matters, the city’s own planning materials offer useful clues. The Bowery is described by the city as a new-urbanism project with townhomes, lofts, retail, and office space, making it one of the clearest local examples of a lower-maintenance lifestyle option.
You may also want to broaden your search just slightly while staying close to your routines. The city identifies Lewisville, Flower Mound, Grapevine, and Coppell as nearby cities. Those areas may offer additional townhome, condo, or smaller single-family options within a short drive of Highland Village amenities and Lake Lewisville access.
The best downsizing move is not always the smallest home. It is the one that supports your daily life with less friction. Square footage matters, but layout and function matter more.
As you compare options, think through features like:
Highland Village also offers DCTA access through the Highland Village / Lewisville Lake station, along with GoZone on-demand service. If driving less is part of your goal, transit access can be a practical part of your next-home decision.
A smart downsizing plan usually works backward from your ideal move date. If you hope to sell in spring, prep may need to begin in winter or earlier. Realtor.com’s 2026 report identified April 12 through 18 as the strongest national listing window, with historically higher listing prices, more views, and a faster pace than an average week.
You do not need to chase one exact week, but the bigger lesson is useful. Good timing rewards homeowners who prepare early. If you wait until you are overwhelmed, the process can feel rushed when it does not need to be.
Downsizing asks you to make many decisions at once. You are not just selling and buying. You are deciding what to keep, what to let go of, how to time the move, and how to protect the equity you built over years of ownership.
That is why guidance matters. NAR’s 2025 seller data found that 91% of sellers worked with a real estate agent. For many empty nesters, having a clear plan, responsive communication, and hands-on help with presentation can make the process feel much more manageable.
At its best, downsizing is not about giving something up. It is about making room for a simpler, more flexible lifestyle that still feels like home. If you are thinking about your next move in Highland Village or nearby, The Monarch Team can help you build a plan that fits your timing, goals, and comfort level.
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When you work with The Monarch Team, you gain a dedicated group of professionals who listen carefully, communicate clearly, and advocate wholeheartedly for your goals. Whether you’re ready now or planning ahead, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.