Real estate will always be an important part of every retiree’s portfolio but there seems to be much more attention paid to it right now because of how hot the market has been.   

We’ve gotten quite a few questions from both retirees and pre-retirees about what they should be doing right now in terms of buying, selling, and renting. The pandemic has shifted the way people are viewing certain regions of the country along with the types of locations they are interested in.

Two years ago, the overall theme for many retirees we were working with was to move south. But that’s starting to change. People are still moving to other parts of the country, but we’re seeing more downsizing and a shift in attitude to stay here closer to family. That’s particularly true of Connecticut, which has seen a surge along the coast as large numbers of people move out of New York City.

We’ve also heard from people that are thinking about selling their homes to take advantage of the high prices and then rent until they find another location. In many situations, the renters come out ahead of the owners. If that’s something you’re thinking about, it could absolutely make sense and we can make sure the math backs that decision up.

The housing market is also impacting the younger generations as well. We’re seeing that many young people want the flexibility to travel and move when they want. There’s a group of people now that live in different places for a month or two and go to another location. For those people, purchasing a home wouldn’t be the best idea. But for anyone that’s wanting to start a family, it’s a great time to start looking for a place to buy and invest that money.

One other aspect of real estate that can impact retirees is helping a child with a down payment. This could come in the form of a gift or a loan, and parents want to help out as much as they can. But should you do it if it could hinder your retirement? We run a future income analysis to see what their long-term financial health will look like if they provide that gift. If it has a negative impact on their future, then we’d discourage it but it’s still their decision and we’ll help them through it either way.

0:35 – General opinion of the housing market right now

3:27 – How are you advising younger people?

5:36 – Helping kids with a down payment

7:24 – Money Map process on housing

10:34 – Mailbag question on renting in retirement

14:49 – Mailbag question on managing inheritance

17:00 – Mailbag question on how much to retire.