Retirement homework: Deciding where you want to live
It's more than a lifestyle choice — the decision should be a key part of your retirement planning. Here's what to consider.
Thinking about downsizing to a condo in the city or relocating to a retirement community? Maybe the idea of living on a houseboat in France appeals to you. Or you may prefer to remain comfortably ensconced in the family home. Among all the decisions you'll make as you approach retirement, perhaps the most important is where to live.
For many people, their home is their largest single investment, so the decision — to keep or sell — opens up many financial questions. For that reason alone, where you choose to live takes on added significance throughout retirement.
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Slide 1 of 5: How housing costs can change in retirement. As you think about where to live, consider these potential expenses.
Slide 2 of 5: Average cost of major aging-in-place renovations
Entrance ramp: $1,110
Stair lift: $8,000
Walk-in tub or shower: $5,000
Sources: Angi.com and Retirementliving.com
Slide 3 of 5: Continuing care retirement community costs
$100,000 to $1 million: Upfront fee to move into a continuing care retirement community (CCRC)
$3,650: Average monthly rent for independent living at CCRCs
Slide 4 of 5: How much nursing home care can cost
A private nursing home room runs $115,007 a year on average, but in certain areas you could pay far more, as these examples show:
Bridgeport, CT: $231,272; Naples, FL: $189,742; St. Cloud, MN: $169,800; and San Jose, CA: $198,455
Source: Genworth Cost of Care Survey projections for 2023
Slide 5 of 5: What you could pay for assisted living
Similar to nursing homes, assisted living rates vary widely by location. While nationally the median annual cost is $57,289, prices are higher in certain areas, such as:
Alameda, CA: $80,443; Boston, MA: $86,808; Charlottesville, VA: $72,566; New York, NY: $73,202
Source: Genworth Cost of Care Survey projections for 2023
"Because there are so many financial, health and lifestyle considerations, it's wise to plan ahead," says Cynthia Hutchins, director of financial gerontology for Bank of America and author of the recent report Housing in retirement: Your life, your choice. And be prepared to revisit your decision. "Our lives are dynamic. What's perfect for you in the early years of retirement may not be the right choice for you as you age," suggests Hutchins. The insights below can help you sort through some of the most popular options as you prepare to live the life you want in retirement.
Staying put? Think about age-proofing your home.
Our lives are dynamic. What's perfect for you in the early years of retirement may not be the right choice for you as you age.
— Cynthia Hutchins, director of financial gerontology, Bank of America
It's a good idea to consult a geriatric care manager to help determine what
renovations — wider hallways, more accessible bathrooms — might be required later in life. Also ask yourself: Is there good public transportation? Are there reliable car services? What community and healthcare resources are available so I can stay socially connected and physically active? "Social isolation and loneliness are among the fastest accelerators of cognitive decline," notes Hutchins. All of these factors have a financial dimension, and you'll need to plan ahead for renovations and more help around the house later in life.
TIP: "If you're planning to stay in your current home and still have a mortgage, consider whether it makes sense for you to pay it off," says Ben Storey, director, Retirement Research and Insights at Bank of America. "You'll lower your monthly expenses — but you'll also lose your mortgage interest tax deduction." It's not an all-or-nothing choice, though, he adds. A tax professional can help you weigh your options as you decide whether to pay all or part of your mortgage off in retirement.
Upsizing, downsizing or relocating? Consider the costs.
Many retirees opt to move closer to family — or to a warmer climate. Some become ex-pats. Others move from a country home to a city condo, or vice versa. No matter your choice, the same general issues — safety, social networks, available healthcare, transportation — also require your attention when you relocate.
Whether you're upsizing or downsizing, be sure to consider taxes and the cost of living in the new area.
— Ben Storey, director, Retirement Research and Insights, Bank of America
Downsizing to a smaller house could make sense if you're looking for a simpler lifestyle, and you might be able to use the proceeds from selling your home to pay for a new one, perhaps in an all-cash transaction. Still, using most of your cash to purchase a new home could limit your ability to cover unexpected expenses.
Buying a larger place, Hutchins notes, could allow you to share a home with your adult children, perhaps helping them out financially now and calling on their support as you age. A larger home might also be the right choice if you're interested in a "co-housing" arrangement (think The Golden Girls), in which a group of friends share a home for companionship as well as savings.
Another popular option is an age 55-plus community, which may offer amenities geared toward active, healthy lifestyles while also relieving you of the need to maintain your home and yard.
TIP: "Whether you're upsizing or downsizing, be sure to consider taxes and the cost of living in the new area," Storey says. "Costs of goods and services can vary dramatically."
Looking ahead to long-term care needs? Start planning now.
One option is a continuing care retirement community, where you can live independently, then progress to assisted living and finally to full, 24-hour skilled nursing care or memory care, if necessary. There's a significant buy-in cost and depending on the facility and the contract you sign, you may be covered for everything you need, or you could be charged for increasing levels of care.
Selling your current home could help finance such a move in the later years of retirement, says Storey, but he cautions against overestimating how much your home's sale might bring. "If you expect a dramatic appreciation and the house sells for less, that can really change the outcome of your plan," he says.
TIP: If you decide to purchase long-term care insurance to help cover your needs as you age, start thinking about getting a policy while you're still in your 50s, when premiums will be lower and you're less likely to have disqualifying preexisting health conditions, says Storey. But long term care insurance isn't your only option; consider
other ways you might be able to cover added expenses for the care you may need to continue living more independently.
With so many housing options to consider, the decision often seems overwhelming, notes Hutchins, but it can be a positive, liberating experience, too. "Look at what you've always wanted to do, and then put the pieces in place to make that happen," she says.
Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions.
Long-term-care insurance coverage contains benefits, exclusions, limitations, eligibility requirements and specific terms and conditions under which the insurance coverage may be continued in force or discontinued. Not all insurance policies and types of coverage may be available in your state.
All guarantees and benefits of the insurance policy are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. They are not obligations of, nor backed by, Merrill or its affiliates, nor do Merrill or its affiliates make any representations or guarantees regarding the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.
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