Score four honest questions about your current home, from the floorplan to whether you are staying only for the interest rate, then weigh the improve path against the move path side by side.
Published May 2026
The "Move or Improve"
Scorecard
3 minutes to decide whether to renovate your current home — or find the right one.
Does the layout actually work for your daily life?
1 = I'm tripping over people | 5 = Perfection
Are you staying only because of your interest rate?
1 = Yes, it's a cage | 5 = No, I'm here for the house
Does your current lot support a pool or outdoor kitchen?
1 = No room | 5 = Blank canvas
Spend $100k on a kitchen today — would you be the most expensive home on the block?
1 = Yes, I'd over-improve | 5 = Room to grow
| The "Improve" Path | The "Move" Path | |
|---|---|---|
| Effort | 6–12 months of dust & contractors | 30–45 days of packing |
| Cost | Cash out of pocket / HELOC | Equity transfer / new rate |
| Result | A better version of an old house | The right house in the right place |
Moving up is not priced by the house you want. It is priced by the gap between what yours sells for and what that one costs. That gap moves on its own, and it does not always move with the headlines. When it narrows, the same move costs you less than it would have a year ago.
Want the "Real" Math?
Don't guess your home's value on a website. I'll show you exactly what your "love your rate" home is worth in today's market vs. what your dream Summerlin/Henderson lifestyle actually costs — in 10 minutes.
Book fifteen minutes with Sandee10-minute Equity Audit · No pressure · Real numbers