Costa Mesa · Downsizing
Downsizing in Costa Mesa
A written plan, a real timeline, and one person coordinating every piece of your move.
Less house, same neighborhood
Many Costa Mesa homeowners who are ready for less house don't want to give up what they love about living here: Newport Beach's beaches and restaurants next door, South Coast Plaza, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and easy trips from John Wayne Airport. Costa Mesa's mix of condos and townhomes can make it possible to stay.
I'm Jeanette Nelson of Jeanette Nelson Real Estate, a Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®). My Transition Planning Program gives you one plan, one timeline and one person coordinating the estate sale, movers and contractors.
Let's Start With a Conversation
What a Costa Mesa downsize usually involves
- Deciding what comes next: a condo or townhome in Costa Mesa, a single-level home nearby, or a move closer to family
- Sorting a lifetime of belongings, with estate sale and decluttering help I coordinate
- Preparing the house, often an older home, with the repairs that make a difference
- Timing the sale and the move so you aren't moving twice
Read my downsizing page for the full program, or compare with downsizing in Huntington Beach.
Selling your Costa Mesa home
Your sale usually funds the next step, so pricing matters. Start with what your Costa Mesa home is worth. My selling approach is on my process page, and the sell-and-buy timeline explains how the two moves fit together.
Let's start with a conversation
You don't need a plan before you call. That's my job. Reach out here or call (714) 366-8575.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I downsize and stay in Costa Mesa?
Often, yes. Costa Mesa has condos and townhomes alongside single-family homes, and in July 2026 the average condo or townhome sold for $932,778.
Who helps with the estate sale and movers?
Through her Transition Planning Program, Jeanette Nelson connects Costa Mesa clients with trusted estate sale companies, movers, decluttering help and contractors and manages them.
What is an SRES?
A Seniors Real Estate Specialist is trained to help homeowners 50 and older with moves like downsizing. Jeanette Nelson holds the SRES designation.
Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa at a glance
Where Character Meets Coastal Living.
- The homes
- Eclectic. A mix of residential zoning and development patterns: single-family homes alongside duplexes and other multifamily properties, condos, townhomes, accessory units, older cottages, remodeled homes and newer construction. Architecture, lot configurations and property types can vary street to street.
- Why people choose it
- People choose it for its variety and personality, and to enjoy neighboring Newport Beach's beaches, restaurants, shopping and coastal lifestyle without Newport Beach home prices. Eastside Costa Mesa, Mesa Verde and the Westside each feel different.
- Getting around
- Access to the 55, 405 and 73, and close to Irvine, Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.
- Nearby
- South Coast Plaza, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, a strong restaurant, coffee and local business scene, and Newport Beach next door.
- The trade-off
- Versus Huntington Beach: Costa Mesa is not a beach city. Parts of Eastside Costa Mesa are very close to the ocean, but there are no miles of coastline, beachfront bike path, pier or surf-town setting outside your door.
The method
How we do it in Costa Mesa
Downsizing: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Jeanette Nelson Real Estate?