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We are incredibly honored to be featured in this month’s City Lakes Lifestyle x Minneapolis Lakes highlighting our stunning listing at 5423 Highwood Drive W in Parkwood Knolls — beautifully designed and renovated by the talented Jaime Foley of Jaime Foley Design.

This feature perfectly captures what we at the Cari Ann Carter Group call “Rightsizing with Intention” — a strategic, lifestyle-driven approach to downsizing, renovating, and transitioning into your next chapter with clarity and confidence.

5423 Highwoood Drive W, Parkwood Knolls

Photos By Ashley Sullivan

What Is Rightsizing? (And Why It’s Trending in the Twin Cities Real Estate Market)

Nearly half the population will experience the empty nester transition — and in today’s evolving Twin Cities real estate market, that moment has become more than a life shift. It’s an opportunity.

Rightsizing is not just downsizing.

It means:

• Letting go of excess square footage

• Creating financial flexibility and unlocking home equity

• Reducing maintenance and monthly expenses

• Designing a home aligned with your life right now

• Embracing a lock-and-leave lifestyle

For many Minneapolis and Twin Cities homeowners, it’s about creating freedom — emotionally, financially, and physically.

A Proven Framework for Empty Nesters

 Cari Ann Carter shares a compassionate, strategic roadmap for navigating this pivotal transition.

With over 28 years of experience serving the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area, Cari has guided hundreds of families through the “What’s next?” moment — helping them decide whether to:

1️⃣ Staying and Loving on your Space

Renovate and reimagine their current home using what we call the 20-Year Test — investing only in improvements that create long-term beauty, function, and value.

2️⃣ Leaving it and finding something New

Sell strategically, capture market equity, and transition into a more aligned home and lifestyle.

Jaime Foley’s story brings this framework to life.

A Real-Life Example of Rightsizing with Intention

As a Minneapolis-based interior designer serving clients throughout Edina and the Twin Cities metro, Jaime specializes in modern, elevated design infused with warmth and purpose.

Two years ago, she poured her expertise into renovating her own home in Parkwood Knolls. Rather than chasing trends, she focused on:

• Clean lines and timeless materials

• Warm neutral palettes

• Streamlined layouts for improved flow

• Smart storage designed for real life

• Quality finishes built to last

The result? A home that passed the 20-Year Test — stunning, functional, and market-ready.

Now, Jaime is selling her beautifully renovated home to lower her financial footprint and embrace a lighter lifestyle.

By releasing excess square footage and maintenance demands, she’s:

• Unlocking equity

• Reducing utilities and upkeep

• Gaining flexibility and freedom

• Creating space for her next creative project

This is what modern downsizing in the Twin Cities truly looks like.

Why Rightsizing Makes Financial Sense in 2026

With the Twin Cities spring market in full swing, many homeowners are realizing:

• Renovated homes are commanding strong returns

• Inventory shifts are creating opportunity

• Equity gains can fund lifestyle upgrades

• Lock-and-leave properties are in high demand

For empty nesters in Minneapolis, Edina, Lake Minnetonka, and surrounding communities, this moment presents a strategic window.

Rightsizing isn’t about loss.
It’s about leverage.

The Emotional Side of Downsizing (That No One Talks About)

Cari’s work highlights the real challenges behind empty nesting:

• Overwhelming possessions

• Family dynamics

• Analysis paralysis

• Emotional attachment to the “family home”

But when guided with clarity and strategy, that weight transforms into momentum.

Jaime’s journey shows that letting go of “too much house” can mean gaining:

• Mental clarity

• Creative energy

• Financial breathing room

• A home that supports your dream