Is 2026 the Year You Make a Move? How to Start Thinking About It Calmly
If you’ve found yourself quietly wondering, “Is this the year we make a move?” you’re not alone.
January has a way of doing that. The holidays are behind us, the house feels a little louder or a little emptier than it used to, and suddenly the question pops up. Not urgently. Not dramatically. Just enough to linger.
For most people, the idea of moving doesn’t arrive with a perfectly timed plan. It shows up as a feeling first. A sense that something may be changing. That your home, while still meaningful, might not fit your life in the same way it once did.
If 2026 feels like it could be a year of transition, this isn’t a call to rush into anything. It’s an invitation to start thinking about it calmly and intentionally.
You Don’t Need to Be “Ready” to Start Thinking
One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that you shouldn’t think about moving until you’re fully ready to act. In reality, the opposite is true.
The most confident, least stressful moves happen when people give themselves time to think things through. Time to understand their options. Time to separate emotion from logistics. Time to imagine what they want their next chapter to feel like, not just where it will be.
Thinking about a move does not mean committing to one. It simply means you’re paying attention.
The Question Is Rarely “Should We Move?”
What people often ask is, “Should we move this year?” But the more helpful question is usually, “Does our home still support the life we’re living?”
That looks different for everyone.
For some families, it’s about space. Kids growing, schedules expanding, work-from-home needs changing. For others, it’s about maintenance, stairs, or a house that suddenly feels like more responsibility than enjoyment. Sometimes it’s emotional. A home tied to a season of life that has quietly shifted.
There’s no right or wrong answer here. Just awareness.
Calm Planning Starts With Understanding, Not Action
If 2026 is on your radar, the best place to start is not open houses or online scrolling. It’s clarity.
That might look like:
Understanding what your current home is worth in today’s market
Getting a high-level sense of what your next options could realistically be
Talking through timing scenarios, even hypothetical ones
Naming what matters most to you now, not ten years ago
None of this requires listing your home or buying another one. It simply gives you information, which creates confidence.
Why January Is the Right Time to Think, Not Rush
January is a planning month. It’s when thoughtful decisions are formed quietly, long before signs go in yards or offers are written.
By starting early, you give yourself the gift of choice. You’re not reacting to a spring deadline or forcing a decision because something perfect popped up unexpectedly. You’re preparing, so if and when the right opportunity comes along, you recognize it and feel ready.
This is especially important for move-up buyers and downsizers, where timing, coordination, and emotion all play a role.
A Gentle Reminder
If this post resonates, let me say this clearly. You do not need to have it all figured out. You don’t need a timeline, a target home, or a perfect plan.
You just need permission to think about what’s next.
Whether 2026 becomes the year you move or simply the year you prepare, clarity will serve you either way. And starting calmly is always better than starting stressed.
If you’re in this thoughtful, early stage and want a sounding board or a clearer picture of what your options look like, I’m always happy to talk it through. No pressure. Just honest guidance, one step at a time.