Why retirees are selling their forever homes?

Asked by: Prof. Bobby Leannon MD  |  Last update: September 4, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (56 votes)

Seniors have realized that the romance of living in their lifelong home doesn't hold the luster it once did. By seniors selling their homes and downsizing, they reduce the costs of homeownership and add to their monthly cash flow. Homes are constantly in need of maintenance and repair.

What age should you buy your forever home?

There are pretty hard rules of thumb for the age at which you should start saving for retirement, and when you should start getting annual screenings at the doctor, but when it comes to your forever home, no age is really the perfect one. “There is no magic number for when people buy a forever home,” Capozzolo says.

Should retirees sell their home?

If you own your home outright or have a lot of equity in it, selling could produce the extra funds your retirement accounts need. The amount of money you'll end up with depends on several factors. First, the housing market and local competition will determine what your house is worth and whether buyers are interested.

Is it wise to buy a house at 70 years old?

Buying a home after 60 can make sense if you have sufficient monthly income and find an affordable home. In addition, if you're physically capable of maintaining the home or can pay for extra help, homeownership won't become burdensome.

What percent of retirees own their homes?

Older homeowners aged 60-plus years like their homes, many view the equity in those homes as a financial reserve, and a significant share are confident of their overall retirement financial plan and expect to age in place. Importantly, the homeownership rate among this age group is nearly 80%.

Something Weird is Happening in the Housing Market

43 related questions found

Why are retirees selling their forever homes?

Seniors have realized that the romance of living in their lifelong home doesn't hold the luster it once did. By seniors selling their homes and downsizing, they reduce the costs of homeownership and add to their monthly cash flow. Homes are constantly in need of maintenance and repair.

How many 65 year olds still have a mortgage?

While many older homeowners own their properties free and clear of a mortgage payment, this is not a feasible reality for many seniors. In fact, more than 10.5 million Americans at or over the age of 65 still pay into a forward mortgage loan, according to a study conducted by LendingTree.

Can a 75 year old get a 30 year mortgage?

Absolutely. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act's protections extend to your mortgage term. Mortgage lenders can't deny you a specific loan term on the basis of age.

How much of net worth should be in house at age 65?

According to some experts, the optimal range for home-ownership is between 10% and 30% of your net worth. Rental properties and passive income: Rental properties are another common and attractive form of real estate.

Is it better to buy or rent when you are 80 years old?

Fluctuations in market value, unexpected maintenance expenses, and insurance deductibles can increase ownership costs. Renting offers greater flexibility and liquidity, and you'll spend less money (and time) on maintenance.

Will I lose my social security if I sell my house?

The site's president, Laurence Kotlikoff, professor of economics at Boston University and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc., responded, “As long as what you're receiving is a Social Security benefit and not Supplemental Security Income (SSI), then the fact that you sold your house won't have any effect on ...

Do most retirees have their house paid off?

More Americans are entering retirement with mortgaged homes, and the average balance of those loans is rising. The share of Americans ages 75 and over who are carrying mortgage debt has risen steadily for decades, according to the federal Survey of Consumer Finances: from 5% in 1995 to a historic high of 25% in 2022.

Should a retiree get out of the stock market?

The bigger issue is not what goes down this week, but what happened over the last year. The reality is that stocks do have market risk, but even those of you close to retirement or retired should stay invested in stocks to some degree in order to benefit from the upside over time.

At what age is it too late to purchase a home?

There is no age limit to a mortgage application. If you have a substantial down payment and a steady income (which can include pension and Social Security payments), you have a good chance of approval regardless of your age.

What is considered a forever home?

A forever home, on the other hand, is a place where you intend to live for many years, possibly even the rest of your life. It's a place where you can expand your family and take on home projects purely for your long-term enjoyment (not only to improve resale value).

Why should you stay in a house for 5 years?

It typically takes homeowners 5 years to build enough equity to benefit from property appreciation and recoup their initial home buying expenses, like closing costs. Staying in a home for at least 5 years can also help homeowners avoid short-term capital gains taxes on the sale of their property.

What is considered wealthy in retirement?

Rich retirees: In the 90th percentile, with net worth starting at $1.9 million, this group has much more financial freedom and is able to afford luxuries and legacy planning.

How many people have $3000000 in savings?

Probably 1 in every 20 families have a net worth exceeding $3 Million, but most people's net worth is their homes, cars, boats, and only 10% is in savings, so you would typically have to have a net worth of $30 million, which is 1 in every 1000 families.

Can someone on social security buy a house?

Borrowers receiving Social Security benefits can use that income to qualify for a mortgage, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Lenders will evaluate your gross Social Security benefit because they use your gross income to qualify you for a loan.

How can senior citizens get free money from the government?

Government Benefits for Seniors Over 65
  1. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), a federal disability insurance program.
  2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a federal cash assistance program for low-income people who are age 65 or older, blind, or disabled.

What percentage of 70 year olds have a mortgage?

Mortgage debt remains uncommon among homeowners age 65-plus relative to their younger counterparts; in fact, the fraction of homeowners age 65-plus who had a mortgage in 2022 (34 percent) was less than half that of homeowners under age 65 (70 percent) 3.

What is the average debt of a 65 year old?

But debt more than quadrupled in households headed by people aged 65 to 74 in that period (from $10,150 to $45,000 per household, on average), and for those 75 and up it has increased sevenfold (from just under $5,000 to $36,000).

At what age do most people pay off their house?

There is no specific age to pay off your mortgage, but a common rule of thumb is to be debt-free by your early to mid-60s.

Is it better to retire without a mortgage?

You want to save on interest payments: Depending on a home loan's size, interest rate, and term, the interest can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars over the long haul. Paying off your mortgage early frees up that future money for other uses.