{"id":5169,"date":"2024-07-09T04:00:29","date_gmt":"2024-07-09T11:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=5169"},"modified":"2026-04-22T11:59:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T18:59:18","slug":"should-you-sell-house-rent-retire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/should-you-sell-house-rent-retire\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I Sell My House and Rent When I Retire? 9 Questions to Ask"},"content":{"rendered":"

Retirement\u2019s around the corner, and with it comes a host of questions about how to transition into your new way of life. One of the more common sets of questions facing soon-to-be retirees revolves around your living situation and what to do with your home.<\/p>\n

Your home is likely full of untapped equity, continual maintenance demands, stairs, special memories, and painfully recognizable empty spaces. It\u2019s time to downsize<\/a>, but what\u2019s the right approach? You may be asking yourself:<\/p>\n

\u201cShould I sell my home and rent when I retire?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Certainly, selling your home to rent when you retire is a major life upheaval fraught with potential benefits and inherent risks to your financial future.<\/p>\n

In this guide, we\u2019ve compiled a list of questions to ask yourself to help decide if this is the right decision for you. We\u2019ve also infused guidance from Kelly Boulton<\/a>, a top-selling real estate agent in Dallas<\/a> with more than 22 years of experience, to offer an objective and informed perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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What's Your Home Worth Now?<\/h3>\n

If you are considering selling your home to retire or downsize, find out what your property might be worth. Enter a few details about your house and we’ll provide you with a preliminary estimate of home value in less than two minutes. It can be a helpful starting point as you plan your next move.<\/p>\n \n

\n Get Estimate<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If you\u2019re considering selling your home when you retire, ask yourself these 9 questions<\/h2>\n

These questions are designed to help you take some time to review the benefits and drawbacks of this decision carefully. If you find yourself answering \u201cyes\u201d more often than not, this may be a legitimate course of action to help you flourish in your retirement years.

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1. Do I need an influx of cash?<\/h3>\n

Most Americans of retirement age have more of their wealth tied up in home equity than any other asset.<\/p>\n

An article from USA Today<\/a> shows the net worth in home equity for homeowners in the following age brackets:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Homeowner Age<\/strong><\/td>\nHome Equity<\/strong><\/td>\nAverage Net Worth<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
45-54<\/td>\n$167,900<\/td>\n$571,300<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
55-64<\/td>\n$186,600<\/td>\n$743,100<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
65-69<\/td>\n$211,400<\/td>\n$804,600<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
70-74<\/td>\n$228,000<\/td>\n$821,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
75 and older<\/td>\n$241,700<\/td>\n$761,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

You may need to convert some of this equity into cash to handle any of the following typical financial needs that commonly arise for those in retirement:<\/p>\n