How much money do you actually free up by downsizing?

Money freed up by downsizing is the difference between your current home's sale price, after paying off any remaining mortgage, and the cost of buying the smaller replacement, a figure that varies enormously based on how long you have owned and what you still owe. Two neighbors in similar-looking homes can end up with very different amounts. Brian Beatty runs that specific comparison against real listings so you see an actual number rather than a general estimate.