Could renting be the right decision for you during retirement? Maybe you can retire stress-free instead of having to continue working to pay off your mortgage.
Perhaps you could rent in an area that’s more appealing to you, such as a tropical destination. Don’t overlook the benefits and value of renting instead of owning during your retirement years.
Consider these 15 reasons why renting is a smart move for retirees.
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1. You won't have to deal with home maintenance issues
One of the best reasons to rent is to avoid wasting money on costly home repairs. You don’t have to find someone to clean the gutters, reseal the deck, pay for tree maintenance, or replace major household appliances.
Rather, you just have to call on the property management company or landlord for help.
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2. You won't have to pay for property taxes
How much money do you pay in property taxes each year? As a renter, you won’t be paying property taxes.
Consider that those taxes are likely to rise in the coming years, too. That’s a simple and, oftentimes, valuable savings option for retirees who want to save money during retirement to lower their monthly budget needs.
3. You can get capital gains exemption if selling your home
If you sell your home, you are exempt from the capital gains tax that is typically charged when you sell an asset that rises in value over time.
If you’re single, you do not pay taxes on the first $250,000, or if married filing jointly, that exemption rises to $500,000. You can take those savings to invest or pocket it in a savings vehicle.
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4. You can improve your accessibility
Renting a home allows you to choose a location that is more fitting to your needs, especially as they change over time. For example, you can choose a one-floor apartment for easy accessibility.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that two in five Americans over the age of 65 have some type of disability, with the most common being mobility-related.
Choosing a smaller, perhaps accessibility-designed rental property means you don’t have to retrofit your home to make it easier for you.
5. You'll find a place faster than if you were buying
If you want to move to a home that’s more fitting to your retirement lifestyle, you’ll have to go through all of the leg work to do so.
That means negotiating prices, getting a home inspection, qualifying for a loan, paying closing costs, and then having to go through selling your existing home as well.
6. You're likely to have lower monthly payments
If you’re watching your monthly budget carefully, you’ll appreciate that renting a home tends to be more affordable than paying a mortgage.
If you’re still paying down a mortgage and want to lower your costs each month, consider selling and renting instead.
One of the ways seniors throw away money during retirement is by having to pay interest on a mortgage. Or if you are near the end of your mortgage term, the tax break for mortgage interest may have vanished.
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If you want to live in a retirement community that offers tons of amenities or you want the latest styles and trends, renting is the way to go.
If your current location is no longer the modern experience you’re looking for, rent instead. Then, you can move quickly and easily to a new retirement community or move to an area that’s more appealing to you as you get older.
8. You can put the value of your home into investments
Though there’s some risk involved, you may be able to use the value of your home to maximize your investments.
For example, if your home is currently worth $300,000 and you sell, you may be able to put the bulk of those funds into investments that can grow in value over the next five to 10 years, allowing your home’s equity to actually make money for you.
9. You’re unsure where you want to live
Whether or not you retire early, you may be unsure where you want to live right now. Do you want to stick around where your kids are raising their families? Or maybe you want to focus on your interests or a desirable region of the world?
Perhaps you want to have the flexibility to travel in a few years and live abroad for some of that time. Renting makes that possible. It’s easy enough to make a change as often as your lease expires.
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If you’re “house rich and cash poor,” selling your home could mean putting those funds into your retirement account, helping you to retire more comfortably.
Let’s say your home is worth $400,000. Those funds can go into your cash reserve to help you meet costs during retirement. It becomes liquid for you.
11. You can have a community surrounding you
Renting in a community, especially a 55+ community, may mean more social activities and opportunities to be engaged in life.
You could buy a home in this type of community, but in a smaller rental building or group of buildings, you have a closer group of people to be friends with or simply talk to more readily. Choose to rent in a location with access to social events and community activities.
12. Your rent may rise, but so does inflation
The biggest drawback of renting is that your monthly payment could rise over time.
However, inflation is still a big factor and can impact you when owning as well, especially if you have to deal with paying more for property maintenance and the higher cost of homeowners insurance.
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Some people find they will need or benefit from assisted living during the later portion of their lives. That could be due to mobility issues, diagnosis of a health condition, or dexterity matters. Right now, you may be able to manage your home, but in the coming years, that could prove harder to do.
Renting allows you to establish your goals and liquidate your home’s value while it’s easier on you. Then, when the time comes, moving from a rented home to an assisted living community may be easier than expected.
14. You can have access to better amenities
Choosing the ideal rental community could mean spending time relaxing by the pool that’s maintained by building management or visiting the gym for a workout when you want to do so.
Some rental communities offer surprising amenities like onsite coffee bars, libraries, and space to host your grandchildren’s birthday party.
You may want to rent in a community that offers walking trails, a waterfront view, or access to green space. You could find these in a home, but they will cost you.
15. You'll have more freedom to travel
You have plans for the next few years. You’re still young and healthy, so you plan to spend very little of your early retirement living at home. Instead, you’ll travel more, hike, and spend some time with the people you care about around the world.
You don’t want to be tied down with a home to manage. Renting offers more freedom and the chance to build a life where you can travel when you want. You can always settle down later when you’re actually ready to do so.
Bottom line
When making the decision about where you’ll live during retirement, know that owning or renting can be desirable for you.
If you rent, it may be easier to get help if you run into financial trouble. You may discover ways to help pay your rent , especially if you end up qualifying for Medicaid. If you owned a home and suddenly needed to move into assisted living or long-term care, you would probably have to sell your home.
In some circumstances, you may need to sell your home to meet the asset requirements and get help paying for that care. This is about your needs now and in the future.
Money tips that can work for everyone
No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.
Focus on paying off your debt . Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.
Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.
Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).
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