It's Okay to Outgrow Your "Forever Home": A Salt Lake County Real Estate Agent's Personal Story

Meta Description: Feeling guilty about wanting to sell your "forever home" in Salt Lake County? A local real estate expert shares why it's perfectly normal to outgrow your home and how to move forward without guilt.

My husband and I might be considered nomads to some people. This April, we finally reached the 9-year mark in our current Salt Lake County home. We have been married for 31 years, and let me tell you that this is the longest we have ever lived anywhere together. This is crazy because we both grew up in homes where we never moved during most of our childhood.

But here's what I've learned through multiple moves and years as a Salt Lake County real estate agent: You are not required to stay in a home forever, even if you once called it your "forever home."

The Guilt of Wanting Something Different

We bought our first home in American Fork, Utah, in 1996. It was a cute 1940s cottage, and we poured our hearts into it to make it better. We had rented and moved seven times before finally purchasing our first home, and I was never so happy to plant some roots somewhere in Utah County. I remember thinking that if I had to live there forever, I would be good with that because at least it was someplace I could call mine and I could paint the walls any color I wanted.

Sound familiar? Many Salt Lake County homeowners have felt this exact sentiment. But then life happened.

When we moved there, our first daughter was a baby. Before you knew it, we were expecting our second baby, and all of a sudden, this 3-bedroom, 1-bath house felt too small. I felt guilty at first—wasn't I supposed to be grateful? Hadn't I said this could be my forever home?

Permission to Change Your Mind

So we put our American Fork home up for sale and started looking for a new one. This decision sparked what would become my passion for helping Salt Lake County families navigate these same feelings and transitions in real estate.

This is when the realization hit me that there is almost nothing else in this world worth having if you don't own the four walls that surround your family and loved ones—but those four walls can change as your life changes. Little did I know this experience would lead me to my real estate career, specializing in helping Salt Lake County homeowners sell homes they've outgrown.

When "Forever" Becomes "For Now"

We bought our second home in Lindon, Utah—a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home built in the 1990s on half an acre with an unfinished basement. Surely we would stay here longer and let the girls grow up here. We invested time, money, and energy finishing the basement, landscaping the yard, and making it truly ours.

Nope. A few years later, we had another baby, and we found ourselves looking at homes in Herriman, Utah. We bought a home on the mountain on 5 acres—over 4,000 square feet. Surely THIS would be my forever house. We had always wanted a large lot and places for our girls to run. Herriman offered everything we thought we needed—space, mountain views, and room to grow.

But once again, life had other plans.

When Your Dream Home Becomes a Burden

I began my real estate career in 2004, helping other Salt Lake County families navigate their housing transitions. Come 2009, there was a significant shift in the market that affected homeowners throughout Utah. The property taxes on 5 acres were starting to be a strain on our young family. We were living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to pay our bills on time.

Here's what I learned: A house that worked for one season of life can become a burden in another season. And that's okay.

Something had to give. We made the difficult decision to sell our Herriman "forever home."

Releasing the Guilt of Selling Your Forever Home

We put the house on 5 acres up for sale, and it took us three tries to finally land the buyer who would follow through with a purchase. This experience during the market downturn taught me that selling your home—even your "forever home"—isn't about failure or ingratitude. It's about being honest about what serves your life now.

We walked away with about $2,000 in our pockets because of the market conditions, and you know what? I was never so happy to be "homeless." We moved into the in-laws' basement with three kids and two dogs, and I felt lighter than I had in years.

Why Salt Lake County Homeowners Struggle with Selling

As a Salt Lake County real estate agent, I see this guilt pattern repeatedly with my sellers:

"We said this was our forever home, but..."

• The stairs are getting harder to manage
• We're empty nesters rattling around in too much space
• The commute to downtown Salt Lake City is wearing us down
• We want to travel more and don't want to maintain a large property
• Our neighborhood has changed and no longer fits our lifestyle
• We've inherited family property and need to downsize
• Medical needs require a different type of home

"We've put so much work into this house..."

• "We renovated the kitchen in our Draper home just five years ago."
• "We landscaped every inch of our Riverton yard."
• "We finished the basement in our West Jordan house ourselves."

"What will people think?"

• "Our neighbors will think we're ungrateful."
• "Our family helped us move in, and now we want to leave?"
• "We told everyone this was our dream home."

The Truth About Outgrowing Your Home

Let me tell you something I wish someone had told me years ago: Your home should serve your life, not the other way around.

My dream of forever was evolving with the wants and needs of my life. How many times do you think you need to find your forever house, to find out it is not what you thought forever would be like?

In my years helping Salt Lake County families sell their homes, I've learned that the concept of a "forever home" can trap people in situations that no longer serve them.

Common Reasons Salt Lake County Homeowners Sell Their "Forever Homes"

Life Stage Changes

• Empty nesters in large Herriman or Draper homes wanting to downsize
• Retirees seeking maintenance-free living in Salt Lake City condos
• Growing families needing to upsize from their starter homes in Murray or the West Valley

Lifestyle Shifts

• Remote workers wanting to move closer to recreation in the Park City area
• Career changes requiring relocation within the Wasatch Front
• Health considerations needing single-level living or different amenities

Financial Evolution

• Equity-rich homeowners want to cash out in Salt Lake County's strong market.
• Tax concerns with high-value properties in areas like Cottonwood Heights
• Investment opportunities prompting strategic moves

Neighborhood Changes

• Traffic increases affecting the quality of life
• Development changes altering the character of beloved neighborhoods
• School boundary changes are impacting family decisions

It's Time to Release the Guilt

Life is messy and has a funny way of showing us who we are and what we want and need as an ever-changing roller coaster ride. Waiting for permission to sell your "forever home" may mean missing out on years of happiness in a home that better fits your current life.

Here's your permission: You are allowed to change your mind about your forever home.

You are allowed to:

• Sell the house you renovated with your own hands
• Move from the neighborhood where you've made friends
• Downsize from the home where you raised your children
• Upsize even though you once said your current home was "plenty big enough."
• Prioritize your current needs over your past declarations

Moving Forward Without Regret in Salt Lake County

As your Salt Lake County real estate professional, I help homeowners navigate these transitions with compassion and understanding. Here's how we make peace with selling your "forever home":

Acknowledge What the Home Gave You

Every home serves a purpose for a season. Your Taylorsville starter home gave you homeownership. Your South Jordan family home gave your children stability. Your Herriman dream home gave you space to grow. Honor what each home provided without feeling trapped by past gratitude.

Focus on Your Current Reality

What do you need now? Less maintenance? Different location? More or less space? Better accessibility? Your current needs are valid, even if they're different from your past needs.

Remember: Homes Are Meant to Be Lived In, Not Museums

The memories you made in your home travel with you. The house itself was the container for your life—it doesn't hold your life hostage.

Consider Your Future Self

What will serve you best in the next chapter? Sometimes holding onto a "forever home" prevents us from creating the life we want.

Ready to Sell Your Salt Lake County Home?

Whether you're ready to sell your Draper forever home to downsize, your Murray starter home to upsize, or your Herriman dream home for a fresh start, I understand the emotions involved. My journey through multiple moves across Utah County and Salt Lake County has given me unique insight into the guilt, excitement, and complexity of selling a home you once thought you'd never leave.

Don't let the search for permission prevent you from making a move that could improve your quality of life. You don't need to justify wanting something different. You need a compassionate, experienced Salt Lake County real estate agent who understands that homes should serve your life, not trap you in outdated decisions.

Ready to explore your options? Let's talk about what your next chapter could look like.

We need to be open to the ever-evolving landscape of our lives with our changing wants and needs. Be open to the today house, not the forever house—and be equally open to leaving the today house when it no longer serves you.

Specializing in helping Salt Lake County homeowners transition from homes they've outgrown to homes that serve their current life. Serving Salt Lake County, Utah County, and the Wasatch Front with understanding, expertise, and zero judgment.