Lake San Marcos & San Diego 55+ Real Estate Specialist: Call or Text Ken Tritle at 760-798-9024
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5-Star Google Review · August 2026 · Lake San Marcos, California · Single-Story Home
The Stairs Were the Problem. Ken Found the Answer — and Then Handled Everything Else.
Gary and his wife had lived in their two-story family home for years. It held their history. But a set of stairs that once meant nothing had started to mean everything, and health challenges made the decision clear: it was time for a single-story home.
That meant two transactions, not one — buying the right home in Lake San Marcos first, then preparing their longtime family home for sale, all while managing health concerns that would have made an ordinary move overwhelming.
They closed escrow on their new single-story home on August 14, 2026. Here is Gary’s account of what the experience was like, in his own words.
Gary’s Full Google Review
Gary Hague ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ · Google Review · August 2026 · Lake San Marcos, California
“From the first communication with Ken Tritle of DreamWell Homes Realty, I was convinced that he was the perfect real estate professional for our transition to a more simplified, relaxed, and safe lifestyle in our retirement years. He and his wife Jean are truly a ‘Dream Team’ and provide a full spectrum and one stop resource for anyone’s real estate needs.
From day one, their extensive knowledge of the north San Diego real estate market coupled with a no pressure, adaptable approach to providing the perfect property for our needs was the foundation of our evolving professional relationship.
One of Ken’s many talents is his natural ability to truly listen and strive to understand the unique set of needs of each of his clients — although client may not be the best term, because his familiarity with our particular needs resembled that of a family member.
To say that Ken’s team went above and beyond our expectations falls short of reality because he frequently anticipated our needs before we even realized there was a need. Like the time I checked my emails to see a message from Ken with a list of all the utility providers that I would need to contact for our new property in Lake San Marcos with all the necessary contact information. Or the time he offered the services of Senior Movers who took on all the stress and anxiety of downsizing, packing, moving, unpacking and organizing our new home so that we could focus on the unique health challenges that we were facing.
Ken’s extensive network of professional resources coupled with his years of experience helping people like us supported his ability to not only meet our needs but anticipate needs we didn’t know we had. From movers, to financial resources, to property inspection professionals and beyond; if there is a need or challenge, Ken’s expertise and extensive team has a solution. And if there are difficult people to deal with he is a staunch and tenacious advocate for his clients and is unafraid to address any issues on behalf of and in the best interests of those he represents.
To say I highly recommend DreamWell Homes Realty is an understatement because after working with them I feel like I now have an extension of my family and a relationship that will continue beyond any real estate needs that my wife and I have. In life there are those rare and special moments when you feel truly lucky and blessed; collaborating with Ken and DreamWell Homes Realty has been one of those moments for my wife and I.”
Thinking About Moving from a Two-Story Home to a Single-Story Home?
Gary and his wife’s situation is one of the most common we see in North San Diego County. A home that worked beautifully for thirty years stops working — often gradually, and then suddenly. If stairs have become a daily calculation in your household, here is what planning ahead looks like:
- Start before it’s urgent. The best moves happen while you still have time to be selective about the home, the community, and the timing. Decisions made under pressure cost money and options.
- Look at more than the floorplan. A true single-story home is a starting point. Step-in showers, doorway widths, threshold heights, driveway slope, and distance to the mailbox all matter more than square footage.
- Consider a primary bedroom on the main floor. If a full single-story home isn’t available in your preferred area, this is often the practical middle ground.
- Sequence the buy and the sell deliberately. Moving twice is exhausting and expensive. There are contingency and timing strategies that let you buy first and sell after you’re settled — we’ll walk you through the options for your situation.
- Use professionals built for this move. Senior Move Managers specialize in downsizing households and are worth every dollar. So are estate sale specialists, donation coordinators, and organizers.
- Plan for the paperwork you don’t see coming. Utility transfers, HOA documents, mail forwarding, insurance, property tax reassessment rules — the list is long, and it should be handed to you, not discovered by you.
Explore San Diego single story homes for sale or browse all San Diego 55+ communities to see what’s available now.
Selling the Family Home After You’ve Moved
The second half of Gary’s story is the one many homeowners underestimate. A longtime family home is rarely market-ready — it holds decades of belongings, deferred maintenance, and dated finishes, and it carries real emotional weight for the people who raised a family in it.
We handle that phase the same way we handle the purchase: with a plan, a network, and no pressure. That includes deciding which repairs are worth making and which aren’t, coordinating the trades, staging around what’s already there, and pricing for the buyers who are actually shopping in your neighborhood today.
If you’re weighing a move like this, start with a free home valuation or read about why selling a 55+ home is different.
Downsizing to a Single-Story Home: Common Questions
Should I move from a two-story home before I actually need to?
In our experience, yes. The homeowners who move while the stairs are still manageable get to be selective — about the community, the floorplan, the timing, and the price. The homeowners who wait until a health event forces the decision are usually moving on someone else’s schedule, often from a hospital or rehab facility, and with far fewer options. Planning a year or two ahead costs nothing and preserves every choice.
What is a Senior Move Manager, and do I really need one?
A Senior Move Manager is a professional who specializes in downsizing an entire household: sorting decades of belongings, deciding what goes where, coordinating donations and estate sales, packing, moving, unpacking, and setting up the new home so it is livable on day one. For most people leaving a longtime family home, this is the single most exhausting part of the process — and it is the part most worth handing to someone else, especially when health is a factor. We connect our clients with Senior Move Managers we have worked with for years.
Should I buy the new home first or sell the family home first?
It depends on your equity, your financing, and how much disruption you can tolerate. Buying first means you move once, on your own timeline, and you can prepare and show the old home empty — which almost always sells better. Selling first can be the right answer if you need the proceeds to purchase. There are contingency structures, bridge financing options, and rent-back arrangements that make either path work. This is a conversation worth having before you list anything.
What should I look for in a single-story home beyond the floorplan?
Step-in or curbless showers, grab-bar-ready walls, doorway widths, threshold heights at exterior doors, driveway and walkway slope, lighting, and the distance from parking to the front door. Also consider proximity to your medical providers and whether the community has services that come to you. A single-story floorplan is the starting point, not the finish line.
Do you help with both the purchase and the sale?
Yes, and we plan them together from the first conversation. Gary and his wife’s move was exactly this: we found and closed on their new Lake San Marcos single-story home first, then next step is preparing and selling their two-story family home. Handling both sides means the timing, the financing, and the moving logistics are coordinated by one team instead of negotiated between two.
Ready to Talk?
Whether you’re just starting to think about leaving a two-story home or you already know it’s time, Jean and Ken Tritle are ready to be the patient, thorough, always-a-step-ahead partner Gary described. No pressure. No rush. Just honest guidance whenever you’re ready.
📞 Call or Text Ken: 760-798-9024
Ken Tritle · Realtor®, SRES® · DreamWell Homes Realty · DRE#01892793 · North San Diego County, CA · www.dreamwellhomes.com
