The Benefits of Downsizing When You Retire

<article class="post-962841 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry" id="post-962841"><span class="entry-date">March 7, 2024</span><div class="entry-header center-block text-center"><h1 class="entry-title">The Benefits of Downsizing When You Retire</h1><div class="shareBlock"><div class="shareTitle">Share</div><div class="shareIcons"><a aria-label="Twitter Share Link" class="twitter solid display-inline-block" data-tracking="Post,Social Post Link Clicked,Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/share?text=The+Benefits+of+Downsizing+When+You+Retire&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fgilliggroup.com%2Fblog%2Fthe-benefits-of-downsizing-when-you-retire%2F" target="_blank"><span class="force-hidden">Twitter</span></a>
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</div></div><div class="post-tax post-category"><span></span><a href="../category/realtor-blog/index.html" rel="tag">Realtor Blog</a></div><div class="post-tax post-post_tag"></div></div><div class="entry-content"><div><img alt="The Benefits of Downsizing When You Retire Simplifying The Market" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://media.agentaprd.com/sites/222/20240307-The-Benefits-of-Downsizing-When-You-Retire.webp" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both; max-width: 100%;" width="358"/>
<p>If you’re taking a look at your expenses as you retire, saving money where you can has a lot of appeal. One long-standing, popular way to do that is by <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2024/02/27/why-todays-housing-supply-is-a-sweet-spot-for-sellers/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">downsizing</a> to a smaller home.</p>
<p>When you think about cutting down on your spending, odds are you think of frequent purchases, like groceries and other goods. But when you downsize your house, you often end up downsizing the bills that come with it, like your mortgage payment, energy costs, and maintenance requirements. <em>Realtor.com</em> <a href="https://www.realtor.com/advice/move/how-to-downsize-your-home-with-zero-regrets/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">shares</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>“A smaller home typically means lower bills and less upkeep. Then there’s the potential windfall that comes from selling your larger home and buying something smaller.”</em></p></blockquote>
<p>That windfall is thanks to your <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2024/02/08/home-equity-can-be-a-game-changer-when-you-sell/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">home equity</a>. If you’ve been in your house for a while, odds are you’ve built up a considerable amount of equity. And that equity is something you can use to help you buy a home that better fits your needs today. Daniel Hunt, CFA at <em>Morgan Stanley</em>, <a href="https://www.morganstanley.com/articles/using-home-equity-in-retirement" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">explains</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>“</em><strong><em>Home equity can be a significant source of wealth for retirees, often representing a large portion of their net worth</em></strong><em>. . . . Retirement planning can be complex, but your home equity shouldn’t be overlooked.”</em></p></blockquote>
<p>And when you’re ready to use that equity to fuel your <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2024/02/06/houses-are-still-selling-fast/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">next move</a>, your real estate agent will be your guide through every step of <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2024/02/19/its-time-to-prepare-your-house-for-a-spring-listing/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the process</a>. That includes setting the right price for your current house when you sell, finding the home that best fits your evolving needs, and understanding what you can afford at today’s mortgage rate.</p>
<h4><strong>What This Means for You</strong></h4>
<p>If you’re thinking about downsizing, ask yourself these questions:</p>
<ul>
<li>Do the original reasons I bought my current house still stand, or have my needs changed since then?</li>
<li>Do I really need and want the space I have right now, or could somewhere smaller be a better fit?</li>
<li>What are my housing expenses right now, and how much do I want to try to save by downsizing?</li>
</ul>
<p>Then, meet with a <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2024/02/09/winning-plays-for-buying-a-home-in-todays-market-infographic/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">real estate agent</a> to get an answer to this one: <em>What are my options in the market right now?</em> A local real estate agent can walk you through how much equity you have in your house and how it positions you to win when you downsize.</p>
<h3>Bottom Line</h3>
<p>Want to save money in retirement? Consider downsizing – it could really help you out. When you’re ready, connect with a local <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2024/02/28/why-you-want-an-agents-advice-for-your-move/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">real estate agent</a> about your goals in the housing market this year.</p>
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