You can retire comfortably as a renter, though it may take some extra planning, Zigmont said. “You need to plan on rental increases and the monthly expense,” he said. “Rather than investing in owning a home, the money you would have spent could be invested in the stock market or REITs if you want real estate exposure.”
Owning a home is not the only path to a successful retirement. In fact, some experts suggest that housing isn't even a great long-term investment and that you might be better off renting instead of owning, anyway.
The Final Multiple: 10-12 times your annual income at retirement age. If you plan to retire at 67, for instance, and your income is $150,000 per year, then you should have between $1.5 and $1.8 million set aside for retirement.
If you retire with no money, you'll have to consider ways to create income to pay 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.
Renting may be the better choice if you're not sure where you want to settle down for good in retirement. This is especially true if you think you may move within three to five years. (See the 10 Best States for Retirement and The 8 Best Places to Retire for Renters for ideas.)
Renting can provide flexibility and free you from the responsibilities of owning a home. Consider what your goals are for retirement and if renting is a way to achieve them. While planning for retirement, a financial advisor can help you create a long-term plan to get you there.
Simply divide the amount of monthly income you need by the cash flow each property generates. For example, if you need $2,000 per month to get by in retirement, then you'd need four properties that generate $500 each.
Financial planners often recommend replacing about 80% of your pre-retirement income to sustain the same lifestyle after you retire. This means that, if you earn $100,000 per year, you'd aim for at least $80,000 of income (in today's dollars) in retirement.
Average Monthly Retirement Income
According to data from the BLS, average incomes in 2021 after taxes were as follows for older households: 65-74 years: $59,872 per year or $4,989 per month. 75 and older: $43,217 per year or $3,601 per month.
Around the U.S., a $1 million nest egg can cover an average of 18.9 years worth of living expenses, GoBankingRates found. But where you retire can have a profound impact on how far your money goes, ranging from as a little as 10 years in Hawaii to more than than 20 years in more than a dozen states.
A higher percentage of homeowners are retiring with a mortgage than was the case 30 years ago. A recent Harvard University study found that 46% of homeowners between ages 65 and 79 carried a mortgage in 2016, almost twice as many as the 24% of homeowners in this age group who carried a mortgage in 1990.
But no matter what age you're at, it's never too soon or too late to start. Beyond that, the rule of thumb is 10%. Whenever possible, set aside 10% of your salary into retirement savings. If you have an employer with a matching 401(k), maximize that, followed by Roth IRA and Roth 401(k) accounts.
If you earned around $50,000 per year before retirement, the odds are good that a $300,000 retirement account and Social Security benefits will allow you to continue enjoying your same lifestyle. By age 55 the median American household has about $120,000 saved for retirement, and about $212,500 in net worth.
What is the average and median retirement savings? The average retirement savings for all families is $333,940 according to the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances.
This could come from Social Security benefits, retirement account distributions or a pension. Another popular income strategy involves using the $1,000 per month retirement rule. It means that for every $240,000 you have set aside, you can receive $1,000 a month if you withdraw 5% each year.
Assuming an inflation rate of 4% and a conservative after-tax rate of return of 5%, you should aim for a savings target of $1.3 million to fund a 30-year retirement that begins at age 67. This would give you an investment portfolio that produces about $50,000 a year in income.
The 4% rule is a popular retirement withdrawal strategy that suggests retirees can safely withdraw the amount equal to 4% of their savings during the year they retire and then adjust for inflation each subsequent year for 30 years.
A general rule of thumb is estimated that owning between 10 to 15 doors that generate positive cashflow can provide financial freedom. Don't let the number scare you, remember that building a rental property portfolio takes time and it's a journey, not a destination.