There Is No One Right Answer. There Is Only Your Right Answer.
Some homeowners should sell and downsize. Some should stay and renovate. Some families should build an ADU and keep everyone close. Jack Girvan's role is to help you understand all three paths — honestly, without pressure, and with your full financial picture in view.
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Downsize or Rightsize
Sell your current home and move to a condominium, townhome, 55+ community, or smaller single-family. Eliminate maintenance, reduce costs, and redirect savings toward the life you've earned.
An Accessory Dwelling Unit allows a parent to live independently on a family member's property — or on their own — while eliminating the burden of a large home. Massachusetts ADU law has recently expanded your options significantly.
Best for
Multi-generational familiesAging parents near familySandwich Generation
Independent living, assisted living, memory care, or Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) offer varying levels of support, social engagement, dining, and wellness — all in one place.
Best for
Those needing support servicesSeeking social communityAdult children planning ahead
An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a self-contained, independent living space on a family property. For many families, it's the best of all worlds — a parent maintains full privacy and independence, while family is just steps away.
Jack is one of Massachusetts' leading ADU specialists, operating as an independent advisor (not a builder) who helps families determine whether an ADU makes financial and practical sense before they commit to anything.
Mom or Dad is managing a large home alone. They want to stay independent but not isolated. An ADU on a child's property lets them downsize, live privately, and have family nearby without giving up their freedom.
The Sandwich Generation Scenario
You're raising children and caring for an aging parent at the same time. An ADU on your own property brings your parent close — reducing caregiver travel, worry, and cost — without combining households.
The Financial Scenario
A parent builds an ADU on their existing property, rents out the main home, and moves into the ADU — or vice versa. The rental income can fund retirement or long-term care expenses.
The New Massachusetts ADU Law
Massachusetts recently passed landmark ADU legislation. Nearly every single-family homeowner in the state may now build an ADU by right — without a special permit. Jack will help you understand exactly what this means for your property.
For Adult Children & Families
You're Doing Everything You Can. Let Us Help.
If you're reading this on behalf of a parent — or you've been researching options while managing your own family and career — you are part of what's known as the Sandwich Generation. You're caught between the needs of aging parents and the demands of raising your own family.
Jack and his team have helped many families navigate this exact situation. We work with adult children, Powers of Attorney, and caregivers as often as we work with homeowners directly. We speak plainly, move at your parent's pace, and make sure everyone feels heard.
If your parent isn't comfortable with computers, that's perfectly fine. We'll meet them where they are — at the kitchen table if that's what it takes.
How We Support Families Through This Process
1We meet in person with the homeowner — never just the family — to understand their wishes first
2We create a written plan the whole family can review together, reducing conflict and confusion
3We help families understand all options — downsizing, ADU, senior community — without steering toward any one answer
4We coordinate a trusted network: estate liquidators, elder law attorneys, movers, stagers, and more
5We can work directly with a Power of Attorney or healthcare proxy when the homeowner needs that support
6We provide a complimentary copy of the Downsizing Made Easy Guide to every family we meet with
The Cost Comparison Calculator
See the True Cost of Staying Put
Enter your current home's annual costs — including upcoming major expenses — alongside the projected costs of a rightsized home. The difference often surprises people. Use round numbers. This is a conversation starter, not a legal document.
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Important Disclaimer
This calculator is designed solely to illustrate estimated cash flow differences based on assumptions you provide. It does not constitute financial, tax, legal, or investment advice of any kind. Results are estimates only and will vary based on your individual circumstances. All figures should be verified with qualified financial, tax, and legal professionals before making any housing or financial decisions. By using this calculator, you acknowledge that all data entered is your own and that Boston Mature Homes and Jack Girvan CSHP assume no responsibility for decisions made based on these projections.
🏚️ Current Home
Annual and upcoming costs today
Upcoming Major Expenses
Enter the total cost and years until needed. The calculator spreads each cost over the remaining years to show you the true annual burden.
🏡 Rightsized Home
Condo, townhome, 55+ community, or ADU
Redirect Your Savings Toward
What would you do with the money you save every month? Fill in what matters to you.
Enter your home costs above to see your personalized savings estimate.
Current Home (Annual)
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incl. upcoming expenses
New Home (Annual)
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Annual Savings
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Monthly Savings
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Over 10 years, that's — in total savings — money that stays in your life, not in your house.
Imagine redirecting your savings every month toward:
Your Financial Runway — How Long Will Your Savings Last?
The greatest fear for most seniors is outliving their money. The best antidote to fear is a clear, honest picture. Enter your financial details below and see — side by side — how long your savings last today versus after rightsizing. Knowledge is peace of mind.
Housing costs are automatically carried forward from your entries above — current home costs for Scenario A, rightsized home costs for Scenario B. Only enter your other living expenses (food, healthcare, transportation, etc.) in the field above.
Complete the fields above to see your financial runway.
Scenario A — Current Home
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Scenario B — Rightsized Home
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This illustration is for educational and planning purposes only. It uses simplified assumptions and does not account for taxes, market volatility, healthcare cost changes, or other individual circumstances. Please consult a qualified financial advisor before making any financial decisions.
Participant Acknowledgment
For use during in-person consultations, workshops, and Senior Center presentations. Please complete the fields below to confirm that all figures entered in this calculator were provided by the participant, and to generate a printed summary.
"I confirm that all financial figures, property costs, and assumptions entered into this calculator were provided by me or on my behalf. I understand that this calculator is designed to illustrate estimated cash flow differences only, and does not constitute financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. I acknowledge that the results shown are projections based solely on the figures I have provided, and that individual results will vary. I have been encouraged to consult qualified financial, tax, and legal professionals before making any major housing or financial decision."
Enter your name, date, and check the box above to enable printing.
Ready to print. Click the button above to generate a full summary with your acknowledgment.
Prepared by Jack Girvan, CSHP · Licensed Massachusetts Real Estate Broker · More Realty Advisors / LPT Realty · 361 Newbury Street, Boston, MA · BostonMatureHomes.com
Participant Information
Name
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Date
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City / Town
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Event / Location
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Housing Cost Comparison
Current Home
Rightsized Home
Annual Housing Costs
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Annual Savings
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Monthly Savings
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10-Year Projected Savings
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Financial Runway Estimate
Current Home
Rightsized Home
Estimated Years Savings Last
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Assumptions Used
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DISCLAIMER
This summary is provided for illustrative and educational purposes only. All figures were entered by the participant and reflect assumptions provided solely by the participant. This document does not constitute financial, tax, legal, or investment advice of any kind. Results are estimates and will vary based on individual circumstances. Boston Mature Homes, Jack Girvan CSHP, More Realty Advisors, and LPT Realty assume no liability for decisions made based on these projections. Participants are encouraged to consult qualified financial, tax, and legal professionals before making any housing or financial decision.
Legacy & Estate Impact
Current Home
Rightsized Home
Projected Balance at —
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Difference (estate impact)
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Participant Acknowledgment
"I confirm that all financial figures, property costs, and assumptions entered into this calculator were provided by me or on my behalf. I understand that this calculator is designed to illustrate estimated cash flow differences only, and does not constitute financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. I have been encouraged to consult qualified financial, tax, and legal professionals before making any major housing or financial decision."
Participant Signature
Date
Advisor Signature (Jack Girvan, CSHP)
Date
Your Legacy & Estate Impact — What Could Be Preserved?
Housing costs are one of the most controllable variables in a retirement financial plan. This panel shows the projected difference in remaining savings at a future horizon — under the current home scenario versus a rightsized home. It's not about fear. It's about choices.
👨👩👧For adult children and family members: this panel shows, in real numbers, what can be preserved — or lost — depending on housing decisions made today. An informed family has a much easier conversation than a family in crisis.
years from today (adjust to your planning horizon)
Complete the Financial Runway fields above to see estate impact.
Scenario A — Current Home
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Projected savings balance remaining
Scenario B — Rightsized Home
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Projected savings balance remaining
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That difference could be used for:
🏥Healthcare & long-term care
🎓Grandchildren's education
✈️Travel & family experiences
🤝Charitable giving & causes
👨👩👧Inheritance for your family
🕊️Peace of mind — for everyone
The SREI Approach
Five Steps to Downsizing Made Easy
Jack uses the proven Downsizing Made Easy framework from the Seniors Real Estate Institute, a nationally recognized system developed specifically for older adults and their families.
1
Create Your Plan — On Your Terms
The best time to plan is before you have to. We help you explore options, set a timeline, and make decisions while you still have the most choices available. You decide. We guide.
2
Communicate Your Wishes to Family
Moves go far more smoothly when family understands your intentions in advance. We help you structure those conversations clearly and confidently — on your terms, not theirs.
3
Assemble Your Support Team
Jack brings a vetted team: estate liquidators, elder law attorneys, financial planners, move managers, stagers, movers, and more. You don't have to find them. We've already done that.
4
Sort, Simplify, and Declutter
40 years of a life lived means a lot of possessions. We help you approach this step practically and emotionally — 15 minutes a day, one room at a time. Estate sales typically yield far more than garage sales.
5
Settle In and Celebrate
The move is complete. Now it's time to reflect, reconnect, and reclaim your time and energy. Research shows that optimism, an active support network, and staying engaged are the keys to thriving in a new chapter.
JG
Jack Girvan
Licensed Massachusetts Real Estate Broker Senior Housing Advisor · Boston, MA
An Advisor Who Has Seen Every Side of This Decision
With over 40 years in Greater Boston real estate, Jack Girvan has worked through virtually every housing situation a family can face. A graduate of Bentley University and former founder of Educational Funding Consultants, Jack brings a financial advisor's discipline to real estate decisions that are rarely just about real estate.
As a Certified Senior Housing Professional (CSHP) and member of the Seniors Real Estate Institute, Jack is trained specifically in the emotional, logistical, and financial complexities that accompany late-in-life moves. He works as an advisor first — never steering clients toward a transaction they don't need.
Jack is also one of Massachusetts' leading ADU specialists, operating independently through ADU4MOM.com and aduexpertMA.com — advising families on the financial case for ADUs before connecting them with trusted builders.
Jack is a board member of Dream Day on Cape Cod, a nonprofit providing respite experiences for families with seriously ill children — a reflection of his commitment to the families of Greater Boston beyond the transaction.
A consultation with Jack is free, honest, and without obligation. We'll sit down, look at your full situation, and tell you what we genuinely think makes the most sense — even if that means recommending you stay right where you are.