Should You Move or Stay Put in Retirement?
Before buying in a new place, rent for at least one year, or one season, to see if you like it.
Now that I’m retired, people often ask me if I’m planning to move. The short answer: Not anytime soon. My husband and I live in a location that’s easily accessible to activities, friends and family members, both near and far. Our house is large enough to accommodate out-of-town guests but not so big that we rattle around in it. Our mortgage is paid off, and I don’t have a burning desire to live anywhere else—at least for now.
That makes me pretty typical of retirees, according to a study by Age Wave and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Their research shows that 36% of retirees do not anticipate moving in retirement. But more than one-third (37%) of retirees have moved, and 27% expect to move at some point.
Among those who have relocated, about half downsized. But a surprising 30% moved up to a larger home. “That stunned us,” says Ken Dychtwald, CEO of Age Wave. Those who upsized, says Dychtwald, “wanted a house where they could add an office or where grandchildren could come and spend the summer.”
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Respondents in the Age Wave study said their primary reason for moving was to “be closer to family.” But no single reason—and no single destination—makes sense for everyone. “Decades ago, people thought of relocating to places where they vacationed, such as Phoenix and Miami,” says Dychtwald. “Now, they look for somewhere that’s stimulating, has access to excellent health care and a community of folks to interact with.”
Before you make a move, make sure that you and your spouse agree on the destination. It’s not uncommon for one of you to dream of being closer to the grandkids while the other prefers to bask in a warmer clime. Ask yourself if you’d still be happy if the temperature soared or the grandkids didn’t visit often. And consider your finances. If you’re hoping to unlock your home equity, Fidelity estimates that transaction and moving costs can eat up as much as 13% of the sale price of your home. “Do your homework and learn from the successes and failures of others,” says Dychtwald.
Reality check. A good place to start is with the experience of Kiplinger’s readers such as Mark and Sharon Koenig. The Koenigs agreed on several criteria for a retirement location when they moved from South Carolina: a climate with less heat and humidity, a place their scattered kids would visit, proximity to a major airport and a community that would allow them to meet new friends. They settled on an active living community near Denver, and “things couldn’t have worked out better for us,” says Mark.
A number of readers turned into reverse snowbirds as they got older. After a “wonderful, 20-plus-year vacation in Florida,” Joe and Ginger Cissell say, they moved back to Wisconsin to “reconnect with old friends, be closer to the family we love and start a new adventure.”
Sometimes a retirement move hits a speed bump. Together with another couple, Tom and Gayle King bought a home in Belize. The other couple decided almost immediately that an ex-pat community wasn’t for them and returned home. The Kings traveled back and forth for several years before selling the house and returning to New Mexico because, says Tom, “I didn’t have enough to keep me busy.” Before retiring overseas, he advises, “rent for at least one year, or one season, to see if you like it.”
That’s good advice wherever you decide to go. And be prepared to adapt. One New Jersey couple, Nancy and Garry, had always planned to spend time at their Florida condo when Garry retired. But when the time came, it was hard for Nancy to step away from her volunteer activities, including a youth group and a basketball program.
The solution: During the couple’s initial 3½-month stay in Florida, Nancy returned home for a basketball fundraiser. And she is stepping up her volunteer time over the summer. “The best thing is to talk it through,” she says. “I figured out a way to spend time with my husband in Florida and still get joy from my volunteer work.”
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
Janet Bodnar is editor-at-large of Kiplinger's Personal Finance, a position she assumed after retiring as editor of the magazine after eight years at the helm. She is a nationally recognized expert on the subjects of women and money, children's and family finances, and financial literacy. She is the author of two books, Money Smart Women and Raising Money Smart Kids. As editor-at-large, she writes two popular columns for Kiplinger, "Money Smart Women" and "Living in Retirement." Bodnar is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and is a member of its Board of Trustees. She received her master's degree from Columbia University, where she was also a Knight-Bagehot Fellow in Business and Economics Journalism.
-
When Does a Nest Egg Become a Ticking Tax Bomb?
Retirement savers with big bucks in traditional IRAs and pretax 401(k)s could face huge tax bills when RMDs kick in. One potential solution? A Roth 401(k).
By Dan Flanagan, CPA/PFS, CFP®, AEP® Published
-
Medicare or Medicare Advantage: Which Is Right for You?
From overall costs to availability of care, here's what to know about the differences between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.
By Paola Bianchi Delp Published
-
Delinquent CRE Loans Are on the Rise: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Banks are expanding their efforts to restructure CRE loans to avoid losses from the commercial real estate sector.
By Rodrigo Sermeño Published
-
The Problem With 401(k) Catch-Up Contributions for 2024
Retirement Plans New rules governing certain 401(k) catch-up contributions caused confusion and raised concern.
By Kelley R. Taylor Last updated
-
Half of Mothers Have Little or No Retirement Savings
Mother’s Day comes and goes, but many moms face future financial insecurity because they have little or no retirement savings.
By Kelley R. Taylor Last updated
-
Caregivers Share Their Stories
Caregiving Readers' own perspectives on the struggles and triumphs of caregiving.
By Janet Bodnar Published
-
Now You Can Own Bitcoin in 401(k)s. Should You?
cryptocurrency Fidelity will begin allowing investors to put Bitcoin in their 401(k)s. But is this retirement vehicle the right place to hold crypto?
By Charles Lewis Sizemore, CFA Published
-
Start the Elder Care Conversation
long term care Many people don't have a plan set where an elderly parent will go. Do you?
By Janet Bodnar Published
-
The Stresses of Being a Caregiver
Caregiving One study shows that caregiving takes a greater toll on retirees' mental health than on their finances.
By Janet Bodnar Published
-
From EBRI's CEO: What's on Retirees' Minds
Empty Nesters Retirees feel more comfortable spending from steady sources of income rather than tapping their nest egg.
By Janet Bodnar Published