Can I retire with no mortgage?

Asked by: Jakayla Skiles  |  Last update: May 15, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (22 votes)

A guaranteed way to retire without a mortgage is to sell your current home at a profit and use the proceeds to rent a place to live in during retirement. Although it might seem as if you'd just be writing a check to a landlord instead of a lender, the differences between renting and owning can be considerable.

Can you retire if you have no mortgage?

Of course it is possible to retire without a house. Most retired persons in the US do not own a house. However, you need to consider both current and future rental expenses in your retirement spending calculations, which may influence x% withdrawal rate type calculations.

How much money do you need to retire with no mortgage?

By age 40, you should have accumulated three times your current income for retirement. By retirement age, it should be 10 to 12 times your income at that time to be reasonably confident that you'll have enough funds. Seamless transition — roughly 80% of your pre-retirement income.

How many people retire with no mortgage?

An unmortgaged home was once a retirement perk

Mark Iwry, nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. But that pattern is changing. In the Michigan study, researchers found that the share of retirement-age homeowners with mortgages rose from 38% to 51% in a generational span of about 25 years.

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement?

The $1,000 per month rule is designed to help you estimate the amount of savings required to generate a steady monthly income during retirement. According to this rule, for every $240,000 you save, you can withdraw $1,000 per month if you stick to a 5% annual withdrawal rate.

I Retired EARLY – Here’s My Numbers and My Plan

20 related questions found

Can you retire at 60 with $300 000?

That depends on your situation. The main drivers include how much you spend and how much retirement income you get. If you have a generous income from pensions or Social Security, $300k might be plenty. But without significant resources, your spending needs to be relatively low.

How many 65 year olds are in debt?

60% of Americans Age 65 and Older Carry More Debt Than 30 Years Ago. Debt can seriously risk your retirement, and it's on the rise. When it comes time to retire, one of the best first steps is to control your finances. Cut down on bills and household spending so that you can maximize the value of your retirement income ...

How many people retire on only social security?

A relatively small 23% of retirees say their only major income source in retirement is Social Security. Sixty percent of this group say they have enough money to be comfortable, leaving about four in 10 retirees relying only on Social Security who are not financially comfortable.

What if I have no enough money to retire?

If you retire with no money, you'll have to consider ways to create income to pay for your living expenses. That might include applying for Social Security retirement benefits, getting a reverse mortgage if you own a home, or starting a side hustle or part-time job to generate a steady paycheck.

How do I retire if I don't own a house?

Renting frees you from the financial burdens of rates, building insurance, and unexpected maintenance costs. Renting gives you the flexibility to easily change your living situation. You can move closer to family, downsize if your needs change, or even try out different locations without being tied to a property.

What is a good monthly retirement income?

The ideal monthly retirement income for a couple differs for everyone. It depends on your personal preferences, past accomplishments, and retirement plans. Some valuable perspective can be found in the 2022 US Census Bureau's median income for couples 65 and over: $76,490 annually or about $6,374 monthly.

At what age should you no longer have a mortgage?

"If you want to find financial freedom, you need to retire all debt — and yes that includes your mortgage," the personal finance author and co-host of ABC's "Shark Tank" tells CNBC Make It. You should aim to have everything paid off, from student loans to credit card debt, by age 45, O'Leary says.

Do most retirees still have a mortgage?

In 2022, researchers found that just over 40 percent of homeowners older than 64 had a mortgage, a jump from roughly 25 percent a generation ago.

How does it feel to have no mortgage?

If you pay off your house, you will feel an elevated level of happiness for maybe up to six months, but probably closer to one-to-three months. After that, you will simply take for granted you no longer have to pay a mortgage.

What is it like to retire on nothing but Social Security?

Roughly one in seven Social Security recipients ages 65 and older depend on their benefits for nearly all their income, according to an AARP analysis. Unable to maintain the lifestyle of their working years, they trim their already trim budgets, move into smaller homes, or rely on the kindness of relatives to get by.

How big is the average Social Security check of a middle class retiree?

The bureau says the median household income in the U.S. that year was $74,580. A 55-year-old earning that amount today and planning to take Social Security at age 62 would get an estimated monthly benefit of about $1,869 a month — or $22,428 a year. (This figure was reached using the AARP's Social Security calculator.)

How much do most retirees live on?

The average household retirement income in the United States is $27,617, according to an analysis by Wisevoter of data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. However, depending on where you live, your local average may be much higher or lower.

At what age are most people debt free?

The Standard Route is what credit companies and lenders recommend. If this is the graduate's choice, he or she will be debt free around the age of 58. It will take a total of 36 years to complete. It's a whole lot of time but it's the standard for a lot of people.

What is the average non mortgage debt in the US?

Average American Debt Load

That breaks down into $241,815 on average in mortgage debt, and an average of $23,317 in non-mortgage debt (including credit card, student loan, auto loan and personal loan debt). But these debt balances vary greatly depending on age group.

Can a retiree live on $3,000 a month?

Top the amount with 401(k) savings, living on $3,000 a month after taxes is possible for a retiree. For those who only have social security benefits to rely on, there are many places where they can retire on their checks both in the USA and around the world.

How to retire at 65 with no savings?

If you determine you need more than Social Security income to meet your retirement needs, consider these options:
  1. Set a detailed budget to minimize expenses. ...
  2. Downsize your home. ...
  3. Continue working. ...
  4. Take advantage of tax-advantaged retirement plans. ...
  5. Open a traditional or Roth IRA.