Every May and June, countless families celebrate a major milestone - graduation. Whether it’s graduation from college, high school, or kindergarten, many families are preparing to jump for joy that someone in their life has finished another school year and will be moving on to the next step in life. But did you know that graduation is a common trigger for big life changes, especially the buying and/or selling of a home? Today, the experts at Simple Real Estate are going to discuss how graduation and real estate go hand-in-hand, and how we can help you prepare for and make the big transitions that may be coming up in your life. 

First, let’s talk about high school graduation. In our experience, a child's graduation from high school can trigger parents to move for a few different reasons. Many look to downsize as their children leave for college. Others decide to relocate to be closer to where their children are attending college or to support an adult child. Some simply realize that their needs have evolved as their family has grown, and the current home no longer suits them. In any of these cases, buyers tend to look for smaller homes, single-story layouts, or “lock and leave” properties. If you’re the current owner of such a property, graduation season may be a good time to put your home on the market. 

College graduation is another scenario that commonly prompts the buying and selling of property. As students don their caps and gowns, they are also likely to be moving out of student housing and into apartments or even starter homes. In this situation, we’ve seen some parents help their kids out by helping them invest in a property rather than renting. Once a home or apartment is purchased as an investment, the recent grad can live there while they get on their professional feet, and any remaining rooms can be rented out to friends or roommates in a similar stage of life. College graduation also seems to prompt these new, young professionals to seek out living arrangements that have a combination of affordability, walkability, and closeness to jobs.

Some families even opt to blend households in the event of graduation, either for economic or caregiving reasons. In the Bay Area and Sacramento regions, we’ve seen a growing interest in multi-generational homes that feature in-law suites or ADUs. Luckily, Roseville real estate, Natomas real estate, Elk Grove real estate, and many other Northern California cities offer such properties. 

It’s clear to those of us in the real estate industry that graduation is more than just a moment of celebration; it’s a turning point in real estate needs. New chapters in life often come with new needs and priorities. That’s why we’re here to help you through these times of change - to celebrate with you, to guide you, and to ensure you end up with the property that fits all of your family’s needs. Connect with us today so that we can help!