Since the sale, everyone has an opinion about what we should do with the money. How do we think straight?
That noise is one of the most reliable side effects of a sale becoming public — the advice arrives exactly when you most need quiet. So build a small room. Inside it: the few professionals with a legal duty to put you first, and the people who knew you before the number existed. Everyone else gets a polite "we're taking our time."
One test sorts most voices: does this person gain anything from what they're suggesting? That's not cynicism; it's hygiene. Friends, relatives, and people selling things can blur together this year, and the ones worth keeping won't mind the question.
For what it's worth, my stake is on the table: whether you buy big, buy small, or wait, my job is the same — a housing decision you don't regret. When you want one calm read on the house question, just call.
I wrote this answer, and I stand behind it. I'm Chris Deutsch, a Minneapolis Realtor (MN #20382264). Twenty-five years of walking these neighborhoods, checking basements, and sitting across kitchen tables from people making exactly this call. I re-check every answer and date it — this one was last verified .
If your situation is more specific than the market, that's the one worth talking through. Email me at chris@lakesarearealty.com.