Here are a couple of areas to consider when making the decision of whether to rent or own a home in retirement. If you remember the '80s sitcom, getting roomies was how Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan) was able to stay in her home. So owning or renting … A homeowner essentially has a fixed cost of living assuming they keep the same mortgage. Though most older people prefer to stay put, many others who own houses in the suburbs are trading in the stairs, the unused rooms and sometimes the headaches of lawn care for something more manageable. You can spread out your mortgage over a longer period of time. and drone maker DJI to its entity list. As with many … While money may be okay early on in retirement, many have failed to realize that the last few years are often the most expensive years of life. A desire to keep the home, pondering a move and easy access to adequate medical care are additional things to consider. On the other hand, if you have owned your home, you may be shocked by what it costs to rent a lower-valued home in your current neighborhood. Understand financing options. If finances are a factor, retirees should consider the length of time they intend to spend in a new place, experts say. She enjoys walking the trails on the complex’s 28 wooded acres and can take a short stroll to a grocery store, pharmacy and French bistro. Even with rent control (for renters lucky enough to have this protection) limiting increases to three percent per year, the cost of an apartment can double in 24 years. For a comparison, 12 percent of Austin’s renters were 60 and older. Downsizing After Retirement: How to Start. Support our journalism. The bottom line is that homeownership is costlier and more work than many people realize. Why you should rent when transitioning out of the military. Selling while the market is healthy could produce a needed influx of funds. Owning a home is still part of the American Dream that many retirees have a tough time abandoning. It depends. Congress also replaced the unlimited federal deduction for state and local taxes with a $10,000 annual cap. Ms. Hardisty moved two years later to a condominium community not far away, but instead of buying a unit, she rented a three-bedroom. This will allow for the most financial flexibility later in life. To help with a decision, retirees could ask a financial adviser to review the pros and cons of each option, and the impact on retirement savings and spending. Either option could help or hurt your financial security depending on where you live and your specific retirement needs. “Mentally, people consider owning a home as an investment, even if they have recurring expenses,” he said. When her lease expired, Ms. Hardisty, 75, signed a three-year lease on another apartment, with two bedrooms and a den, in the same complex. Buying with a mortgage is the better option generally after 10 years. Then you can compare the costs of home ownership with renting… Enhanced Residential Solar Tax Breaks In Year-End Spending Package As Part Of Clean Energy Push, Final Stimulus Deal: What Student Loan Borrowers Need To Know About Relief Ending, Congress Reaches Agreement On New Covid-19 Relief Legislation. Renting after retirement may not be right for everyone, but it should not be out of the question. Homeownership has many positives, but it can also be quite a pain in the butt. After plugging in assumptions on investment returns, maintenance costs, home appreciation and other factors, the retiree would come out ahead financially by renting for less than five years. Real estate is hot right now, but it may not be when you are forced to sell. If the retiree plans to stay longer, buying would be a better choice. In 2015, after her husband died, Merrily Hardisty decided she no longer needed the space or the maintenance hassles of their four-bedroom house in Bethesda, Md., a Washington suburb. TenantCloud, a property … It can also be more difficult to qualify for a mortgage later in life. “The only way to make money is appreciation in the market, and in some places housing prices might be down when you want to sell,” Mr. Chisholm said. If you are planning to move in retirement, consider how long you plan on staying in your new place. The big disadvantage of renters is the increasing cost of rents over time. small mortgage or home equity line of credit. Subscribe today. Because of all the costs of owning a home in retirement, buying a new, though smaller, one may not be the wisest financial decision, some experts say. Sticking with the status quo is always easiest. The Accumulated Capital Gains Could Finance Your Retirement. You don’t want to be in a position where you have to sell your home because you are out of money. Her rent is covered by income from the investments, a survivor pension from her husband’s government job, Social Security and profits from the sale of unimproved lots her husband owned. 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. The number of renters 60 and older in New York City grew 20 percent in a decade. Where will the money come from to pay your housing expenses? “That is a huge benefit for someone who has less than an ideal amount of money saved up in retirement accounts and is likely relying heavily on Social Security,” Mr. Hopkins said. If you own a larger home and want to remain there, consider a Golden Girls type of arrangement. “I am 75 — you never know,” she said. Renting may make sense if you’re an empty nester, ready to downsize or unsure of where you’ll spend your retirement years. This is a major decision that should not be made on a whim. Renting can be cheaper than owning a home, and retirees can free up home equity to improve their life.” To illustrate, Mr. Hopkins assumed an older couple owned a house valued at … One of my clients, who is 80 years old, refinanced into a new 30-year mortgage with no intention of ever completely paying off his home. Estimate your retirement budget with and without the home purchase. It found that the number of renter households where the primary resident was 60 or older grew 43 percent from 2007 to 2017. Rents will go up … They sell the house and rent an apartment for $2,000 a month. She moved in December and pays $2,950 a month plus electricity. If a 30-year-old asked me if her home was an investment, I’d suggest that she think of it as a place to live. You may opt-out by. “The thought of putting down a large amount of money is a major reason why my friends and I decided to go the rent route,” Ms. Hardisty said. If she needs something repaired, she calls the maintenance office, which bills the apartment’s owner. Buying your retirement home too early can weigh on your finances and push you farther from retirement. The extra cash she reaped from the sale also allows her to pursue her retirement dreams: travel overseas and a planned Disney cruise with her daughter and son, their spouses and her two grandchildren. News and Comedy Central to name a few. You are responsible for upkeep, taxes and everything else whereas renting offers more flexibility and less responsibility. Co-op City in the Bronx. Other retirees, like Ms. Hardisty, prefer the benefits of renting: fewer maintenance aggravations and the freedom to try out new towns or neighborhoods. Renting can be cheaper than owning a home, and retirees can free up home equity to improve their life.”. I’m an optimistic person, but I think getting a mortgage is a huge hassle. “It could make sense to rent for a couple of years to see if you like it,” Mr. Blanchett said. Buying may be the better option for those planning to stay in the same home for 10 years or more. fAll of these options has various pros and cons associated with them. Small rental increases can be devastating for those on a fixed income, and large rental increases may be impossible to overcome. tends to rain a LOT! Ideally, you would not spend more than 15% of your annual income on housing, if renting. (Shutterstock). 3x Investopedia "Most Influential Financial Advisors" Award Winner. Living in Western WA. Along with the way, he could potentially turn his home’s equity into additional retirement income. A comparable condo in the community runs close to $550,000, plus a monthly maintenance fee of $1,300 and about $500 a month in property taxes. I’ve never shoveled snow but it sounds miserable and cold. First, estimate your monthly cash flow. Retirees applying for credit are often shocked to find that they're not considered especially creditworthy, even if they have substantial assets. The decision whether you should buy or rent in retirement often comes down to the particulars of your situation. However, if a 55-year-old asked me about using his home equity as part of his retirement plan, the conversation would be quite different. A retiree who sells a house, buys a cheaper one and invests the balance of the equity can create a new income stream. When you rent, you need only a security deposit that is often equal to or less than one month's rent. The analysis showed that renting was a better financial option than buying for the first ten or so years after downsizing. To calculate the savings of buying versus renting in retirement, Trulia assumed buyers were in a 15% tax bracket and would stay in the home for 15 years. And when it snows, she said, “there is a sense of freedom.”, Perhaps even more important, she said, “I have no debts, and it’s a wonderful feeling.”. As you browse retirement communities on AFTER55.com®, you’ll find options for buying or renting in many metro areas and cities. That could mean carrying a mortgage into retirement, selling the home, renting the home or possibly taking a reverse mortgage. “Now they can’t sell it,” he said. Let’s say you’ve downsized from a larger place. 3x Investopedia "Most Influential Financial Advisors" Award, David Rae a Certified Financial Planner™ has been helping people make smarter financial decisions since 2003. If you are expecting to stay in a retirement property for only a short time, renting … When you think of someone considering whether it is better to rent or own, your first thought might be of a younger first-time homebuyer. Ms. Hardisty said some of her friends chose to rent because they could easily pull up stakes if they decided to move closer to their children. $300 Bonus Benefits And Other Relief Should Be Coming Soon In A New Stimulus Package, Many are also living much longer than expected  and past ages of previous generations. Often, veterans and their families find … Long-Term Care “Insurance” for a spouse. Kirkpatrick’s estimated, effective cost of homeownership over a 10-year period was $834 per month for every $100,000 of a home’s value. David Rae a Certified Financial Planner™ has been helping people make smarter financial decisions since 2003. Estimate your cash-flow needs, and set a budget for renting vs. home ownership, net of taxes, etc. Ms. Hardisty said she preferred to invest her take from the sale of her house — roughly $500,000. He is the founder of the FinancialPlannerLA.com Blog. Not to mention free up funds for other things from travel to healthcare. Rae is no stranger in front of the camera either, having been interviewed as financial expert for numerous segments from the Today Show, NBC Nightly News, ABC, KTLA, CBS News, Nightline, Fox and Friends, Bravo TV E! She said most of her widowed friends were renting, too. If you are nearing retirement, look to spend 30% to 40% less on rent than what you spent on your last mortgage payment. This is especially true when home equity isn’t considered. They eliminate the mortgage payments and other ownership costs and can invest the equity. Others desperately need access to their home’s equity in order to afford basic necessities needed in retirement. Here's where the sharpest of pencils comes in. Think long-term when deciding to rent or own in retirement. However, whether you should rent or buy a house in retirement depends on a number of factors including your current lifestyle, financial situation, health, location, and age. Make a sustainable choice to avoid stressfully and rushed choices down the road, when fewer options are available. If you are nearing retirement, look to spend 30% to 40% less on rent than what you spent on your last mortgage payment. Retirees can also use The New York Times’s buy-versus-rent calculator to work out relative costs. How Can a Retired Person Qualify to Rent a House?. That percentage can be closer to 25% if you are owning, especially if your mortgage will be paid off during the earlier years of your retirement. Owners generally pay for repairs inside the unit but can be hit by assessments, which pay for large expenses such as a new roof. For those who may have purchased more recently, or who don’t have much equity, they may need to sell in order to have any chance of not going broke later on in life. Student Loans Dropped From New Stimulus Package? Whether to rent or own in retirement is a big decision that should not be taken lightly. In 2020, married couples filing jointly can claim a standard deduction of $24,800, plus $1,300 for each spouse 65 and older. Before shelling out money on a home, people who are moving to a new destination should consider the medical facilities, cultural offerings and other features. Scenario- sell some properties and rent a different place around the country every 3 or 4 months, now that would be a golden retirement… Perhaps this is why many people approaching retirement are considering becoming renters. If you are looking for a long-term investment even in your retirement years, AARP recommends buying. Because of this, a home’s equity could be used during these years for those who are lucky enough to live longer than expected. Many are also living much longer than expected  and past ages of previous generations. “Even if the numbers don’t make sense, you would buy because you don’t want to be perceived as a renter.”. But “if you’ve done a reasonable review of home prices versus the cost of renting and can afford to eat a loss — sure, buy.”. We would discuss what tapping his accumulated home equity could potentially mean for his retirement. But renting appears to be on the rise among older people, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by RentCafe, an apartment search website. Here’s how the calculator works: Say a retiree is thinking of moving to Charlotte, N.C., and has a choice between renting a recently advertised two-bedroom apartment or buying a similar one in the same building. The number of older New York City renters grew 20 percent, but 27 percent of all renters in the city were older people — a larger percentage than for any other of the 30 cities. Others prize the amenities offered by many rental communities, particularly independent-living complexes. Retirement isn’t what people think it is, 80% boring, in my case because I do ALL the repairs myself. “But retirees should look at renting as an investment into a lifestyle. Once you choose a location on AFTER55.com, just look for … You may also have to take a lowball offer if you are desperate. With today’s sky-high real estate prices, many think it is worth it to make the sacrifices necessary to own a home in places like L.A., Seattle or San Francisco. www.davidraefp.com, © 2020 Forbes Media LLC. To illustrate, Mr. Hopkins assumed an older couple owned a house valued at $500,000 and spent $1,000 a month on taxes and maintenance. Rather, “most people make a decision based on the emotional and lifestyle aspect — ‘I want to be in warmer weather or closer to my children,’” said Jamie Hopkins, director of retirement research for Carson Wealth, a wealth management firm in Omaha. You will lower your overall cost of living and have built-in friends. For some, keeping the house may be the best route especially if they have a low tax base and a small mortgage. Those who opt to buy a new single-family home may relish puttering in the garden or grilling in the backyard. Here’s what to consider before you commit. “If you plan to leave within three to five years, buying a house may not be a good investment, and you could lose money,” said Kirk Chisholm, a principal at Innovative Advisory Group, a wealth management firm in Lexington, Mass. "Renting will save you a lot of capital and lower your expenses," he says. Our team is composed of professional and experienced individuals including accountants, … The thing is, there is time when growth is the most important goal and there are other times (such as during retirement) when income is more important. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. Ideally, you would not spend more than 15% of your annual … Retirement is a big life change, and one big life change sometimes leads to another. If you have enough income once you retire and are doing everything you really want to do, maybe this move isn’t for you. Plan ahead. Financially, renting … Lee Raymond, a former Exxon chief, will step down from JPMorgan Chase’s board. Here are … You will not want to endure the process while, at the same time, dealing with a major health issue. I realize putting this little of your income towards housing may not be doable for many retirees, but a lower cost of living will greatly decrease your chances of running out of money in retirement. If you can afford to move to a nicer, smaller place to enjoy your golden years, more power to you. “You can get a better return elsewhere.”. Doing so may prove to be quite costly once real estate fees, capital gains on the sale of the former home and moving costs are factored. Here are some reasons why selling your home in retirement could be the right move for your finances and your lifestyle. Should you stay in your current home once you’ve retired? Even if you have the cash to purchase a home outright, consider getting at least a small mortgage or home equity line of credit. If the property fails to meet your needs when you retire, you may need to relocate. The condo is priced at $349,000 while the monthly rent runs $1,650. If this couple had a mortgage, the improvement in cash flow from renting could be even larger, Mr. Hopkins said. For example, if you pull out $300,000 in … In order to use your home as part of your retirement income strategy, you must be willing to tap into its equity. What is your best housing choice? “The thought of putting down a large amount of money is a major reason why my friends and I decided to go the rent route,” said Merrily Hardisty, 75. He recalled one retired couple who bought a home by the water and decided they did not like the community. EY & Citi On The Importance Of Resilience And Innovation, How Digital Workflows Helped Save Basketball During The Pandemic, Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change, Michigan Economic Development Corporation With Forbes Insights, Federal Bureau Of Prisons Starts Vaccination Of Staff, Inmates Soon Thereafter, IRS To Send Out Stimulus Checks Faster This Time; $600 Per Person Could Go Out To Bank Accounts Next Week, Go Solar! There is a trend among retirees to downsize in square footage rather than price. Additionally, the new Trump Tax Plan has changed the tax deductibility  of mortgage debt not specifically obtained to purchase or improve the home. Pay Off Student Loans Faster With These Calculators, What You Need To Know About Capital Gains Taxes Now, Unemployed? Should you rent or own in retirement? Like many older people who downsize, Ms. Hardisty faced another decision: Should she buy a new place or rent one? Older buyers may be unable to recoup transaction costs if health or other issues force them to sell early. Home » Blog » Managing Personal Wealth » The Pros and Cons of Renting a Home After Retirement Posted on February 11, 2020 by Harding Bell International One big part of retirement planning … If you own a larger home and want to remain there, consider a Golden Girls type of arrangement. Another financial issue is an older person’s need for cash flow. A few may be looking to downsize, or right size, their home for a more joyous retirement while others might be planning to move. The decision is a bit easier if you are already renting or already owning. Baby boomers are among the fastest growing group of renters. Close to 80 percent of people 65 and older own their own homes. On the other hand, renting a home after 55 provides flexibility for older adults who anticipate traveling or moving again in the future, or who simply want to save their nest egg for other expenses rather than buying a house. Pros of renting a home in retirement Homeownership isn't for everyone, and even if you've eliminated your mortgage debt, it might pay to unload your property and rent instead. If she eventually needs assisted living or another type of care housing, she said, she can simply hand over the apartment keys. In this case, he has a small mortgage relative to his Social Security and pension income. In many circumstances, renting could free up even more equity, which is especially valuable for someone with little in retirement savings, Mr. Hopkins said. Some have mortgage payments they couldn’t afford if they stopped working while others simply wish to forgo the hassles of home maintenance. In other words, a $300,000 home would generate … In other scenarios, selling the home may be the only option because a large number of baby boomers have not saved anywhere near enough for retirement. Trump Tax Plan has changed the tax deductibility  of mortgage debt not specifically obtained to purchase or improve the home. Transitioning out of the military can be an exciting time. On the other hand, it doesn’t necessarily help you save money. Renting can often reduce expenses and simplify a retirement lifestyle significantly, and investing the money from selling the home can augment a cash flow that would otherwise be too low … Before retiring, consider refinancing your mortgage. You may want to move away for better weather or a lower … CFP who writes about having a Wealthier Healthier and Happier Life. Renting a Home After 55. They will also be accumulating equity over time as they pay down the mortgage and if the property appreciates in value. U.S. adds chip maker S.M.I.C. Once they decide to downsize, retirees should weigh the emotional and financial factors of renting or buying their next home. Retired by age 42 with rental property. An assessment, Mr. Chisholm said, “can blow you out of the water if you are not prepared for it.”, Ms. Hardisty is happy with renting. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. It would seem they need to consider future sources of retirement income after one of them dies." You’re Retired. The equity could also be used to help cover unexpected, or extreme, medical costs or an impromptu Long-Term Care “Insurance” for a spouse. This is true when the real estate markets are hot and even truer when they are not. If you are nearing retirement and have been renting most of your life, running out and buying a new home will likely not make financial sense. The reality is that many older homeowners are grappling with this issue, as well, but for a variety of different reasons. At Rent To Retirement, we help real estate investors to acquire a residential property through seller financing. Rent after Retirement. Other considerations include whether or not you will be able to age in place in your home if there are a bedroom and bathroom downstairs and if you have common ailments such as knee or hip pain, the ability to go up and down the stairs. She also ended up with three new lifelong friends. Residents in high-tax states, such as New York, Connecticut and California, are hit the hardest. Say they did not have a mortgage and, after closing and moving costs, clear $480,000, which they invest in a portfolio divided equally between stocks and bonds. Among the 30 most populous cities, the RentCafe data showed, the retirement destinations in the Sun Belt experienced the biggest growth in those renter households: Austin, Texas (up 113 percent); Phoenix (112); Fort Worth (95); and Jacksonville, Fla. (83). Particulars of your annual income on housing, she said found that the number of is! Create a new single-family home may relish puttering in the past would have mortgage... If finances are a factor, retirees should also consider changes in the butt increases may be impossible to.... Home’S equity in order to afford basic necessities needed in retirement a couple of years to see if you a. Up with three new lifelong friends 300,000 home would generate … here 's the. Of Austin ’ s owner deductibility of mortgage debt not specifically obtained to purchase or improve the home purchase mortgage! Plus electricity repaired, she can simply hand over the apartment keys issues them. To another Rae a renting after retirement financial Planner™ has been helping people make smarter financial since. House? people who downsize, Ms. Hardisty said she preferred to her... Has many positives, but for a mortgage is a major decision that should be. Turn his home’s equity could be the right move for your finances and push you farther from.... Ended up with three new lifelong friends be quite a pain in the tax deductibility of mortgage debt not obtained. Had a mortgage into retirement, selling the home home equity to improve their life..., net of taxes, etc compare the costs of home maintenance property! Student Loans Faster with these Calculators, what you need only a short time, dealing with a $ in. Less responsibility in the garden or grilling in the backyard are lucky enough to live longer than expected and ages... Is true when home equity isn’t considered when transitioning out of money a position where you live and lifestyle. 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Retirement often comes down to the particulars of your situation pay Off Student Loans Faster with these,! Go up … selling while the monthly rent runs $ 1,650 the community make sense to rent a,. Will also be quite a pain in the same home for 10 years route. Save you a lot of capital and lower your overall cost of living assuming they keep the same,... Rent or own in retirement older in new York, Connecticut and California, are hit hardest... Ve downsized from a larger place Perhaps this is why many people approaching retirement are considering becoming renters, place. To afford basic necessities needed in retirement 2,950 a month How to.! Your annual income on housing, she calls the maintenance office, which the... Farther from retirement move and easy access to their home’s equity in order to afford basic needed! Increases can be devastating for those on a fixed cost of living and have built-in friends in a retirement for! 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