Key Takeaways. Carrying a mortgage into retirement allows individuals to tap into an additional stream of income by reinvesting the equity from a home. The other benefit is that mortgage interest is tax-deductible. On the downside, Investment returns can be variable while mortgage payment requirements are fixed.
It's not necessarily a bad thing to retire with a mortgage as long as you can still pay all of your expenses—including your mortgage—with your retirement income. Retiring with a mortgage is more common than in previous years.
While mortgage rates are currently low, they're still higher than interest rates on most types of bonds—including municipal bonds. In this situation, you'd be better off paying down the mortgage. You prioritize peace of mind: Paying off a mortgage can create one less worry and increase flexibility in retirement.
Many Retired People Don't Expect to Pay Off Mortgages
The survey, "Retirement and Mortgages," by national mortgage banker American Financing, found 44 percent of Americans between the ages of 60 and 70 have a mortgage when they retire, and as many as 17 percent of those surveyed say they may never pay it off.
As a general rule, your housing costs, including your mortgage, property taxes, and insurance, should not exceed 30% of your income. If you're living on a $30,000 annual retirement income, it means your housing expenses shouldn't cost more than $9,000 a year, or $750 a month.
Can you get a 30-year home loan as a senior? First, if you have the means, no age is too old to buy or refinance a house. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits lenders from blocking or discouraging anyone from a mortgage based on age.
Summary: maximum age limits for mortgages
Many lenders impose an age cap at 65 - 70, but will allow the mortgage to continue into retirement if affordability is sufficient. Lender choices become more limited, but some will cap at age 75 and a handful up to 80 if eligibility criteria are met.
According to a 2019 report from Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies, 46% of homeowners ages 65 to 79 have yet to pay off their home mortgages. Thirty years ago, that figure was just 24%. There are several smart ways to retire without a mortgage.
Kevin O'Leary, an investor on “Shark Tank” and personal finance author, said in 2018 that the ideal age to be debt-free is 45. It's at this age, said O'Leary, that you enter the last half of your career and should therefore ramp up your retirement savings in order to ensure a comfortable life in your elderly years.
If you own your home outright or have a lot of equity, selling could help you fund your retirement. But renting in retirement could end up being more expensive than aging in place in a paid-off home, where you'd be responsible for just yearly property taxes and maintenance.
Using one of these options to pay off your mortgage can give you a false sense of financial security. Unexpected expenses—such as medical costs, needed home repairs, or emergency travel—can destroy your financial standing if you don't have a cash reserve at the ready.
Mortgages are the largest debt owned by many Americans, but paying them off before reaching retirement age isn't feasible for everyone. In fact, across the country, nearly 10 million homeowners who are still paying off their mortgage are 65 and older.
Percentage Of Your Salary
Some experts recommend that you save at least 70 – 80% of your preretirement income. This means if you earned $100,000 year before retiring, you should plan on spending $70,000 – $80,000 a year in retirement.
Utilizing 401(k) funds to pay off a mortgage early results in less total interest paid to the lender over time. However, this advantage is strongest if you're barely into your mortgage term. If you're instead deep into paying the mortgage off, you've likely already paid the bulk of the interest you owe.
Seek Employers Who Offer Pension
If you're wondering how to retire at 50 with no money, find a position with a company that offers a pension. With a little extra thought and planning, working for 10 or 15 years at a company with a pension could make a positive impact on your retirement savings.
According to the Survey of Consumer Finances, the percentage of households headed by an adult aged 65 or older with any debt increased from 41.5% in 1992 to 51.9% in 2010 to 60% in 2016. Median total debt for older adult households with debt was $31,300 in 2016 – more than 2.5 times what it was in 2001.
The best strategy is to take out loans only if they're scheduled to be paid off before you retire. But if that's not possible, what should you do? As with a mortgage, think carefully before withdrawing money to pay off debt in a lump sum, especially if you're under age 59½.
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the median average retirement income for retirees 65 and older is $47,357. The average mean retirement income is $73,228. These numbers are broken down into median and mean to more fully understand the average retirement income.
With a lifetime mortgage, you take out a loan secured on your home which does not need to be repaid until you die or go into long-term care. It frees up some of the wealth you have tied up in your home and you can still continue to live there.
Yes, you can get a mortgage at 60, and you might be surprised to find out how many options are available to you that offer both the security and the flexibility that you will need to make the most of your retirement, whether you are 60 or older.
There's no age that's considered too old to buy a house. However, there are different considerations to make when buying a house near or in retirement.
There's no age limit when it comes to getting or refinancing a mortgage. Thanks to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, seniors have the right to fair and equal treatment from lenders.
There is no set rule for age limits on mortgages, but lenders tend to have their own cap, some of which can be as low as 55. Lenders are trying to be more open-minded and take into account that people are now living and working for longer. Some high-street lenders will have age limits as high as 85.
Equity Assets
If you have any retirement accounts, stocks or mutual funds, these are considered equity assets. Be sure to include these on your home loan application.
But if you can supplement your retirement income with other savings or sources of income, then $6,000 a month could be a good starting point for a comfortable retirement.