More than three-quarters (78%) of older American homeowners plan to stay in their current home as they age, according to a new report from Redfin. Redfin asked baby boomers in a recent survey what they anticipate their living situation to be as they grow older, and staying in their current home is by far the most common aging plan for older homeowners.
The next most common plan is moving to a 55+ community; one in five (20%) baby boomers are considering moving into a 55+ community or have already done so. Next comes moving in with adult children, with 10% of baby boomers citing that as a possible plan, and moving to an assisted-living facility (10%). Those are followed by moving in with friends (6%).
These responses are based on a Redfin-commissioned survey conducted by Qualtrics in February 2024. The nationally representative survey was fielded to roughly 3,000 U.S. homeowners and renters. The results from baby boomers who renttheir home are similar to the results for homeowners noted in Redfin’s report.
Aging in place contributing to housing shortage
The fact that the vast majority of baby boomer homeowners plan to age in place could prolong the shortage of homes for sale. Inventory is sitting at historically low levels (though new listings have started climbing in recent months) in large part because homeowners who scored ultra low mortgage rates during the pandemic are staying put to avoid taking on a new rate at today’s elevated levels. Many of those homeowners are baby boomers.
Related: Baby Boomers Plan to Stay In Their Home As They Age
Baby boomers staying put is one reason young Americans are having a hard time finding a family home, according to a separate Redfin analysis. It found that empty-nest baby boomers own 28% of three-bedroom-plus U.S. homes, while millennials with kids own just 14%. Baby boomers have an outsized impact on the housing market because they’re most likely to own homes: Nearly 80% of boomers own the home they live in, compared to 55% of millennials.
Another Redfin analysis found that older Americans staying in their homes is already a driving force behind increasing homeowner tenure and the lack of homes for sale: More than half of baby boomers have lived in their home for over 10 years. Low inventory pushes home prices up, exacerbating the housing affordability problem in this country.
Staying put makes financial sense
Baby boomers are holding onto their homes largely because there’s not much financial incentive to let go of them. Most (54%) boomers who own homes have no mortgage, and for those who do have a mortgage, nearly all have a much lower interest rate than they would if they sold and bought a new home. Tax systems in some states, like California and Texas, also make it financially beneficial for people to stay in their homes as they age. And with medical and tech advancements, it’s increasingly possible for people to stay in their homes as they get older.
“Older Americans are aging in place because it makes financial sense, but also because it’s human nature to avoid thinking about challenging scenarios such as needing help as you get older,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. “In reality, many homeowners and renters will need to move somewhere that better meets their needs as they age, like a senior-living community or a one-story home in an accessible neighborhood. But the government isn’t prioritizing building housing for seniors, which is further encouraging older Americans to stay put, exacerbating the inventory shortage. Politicians should focus on expanding housing stock that meets the needs of older Americans, which could help with housing affordability and availability for all.”
More than half (51%) of baby boomers who aren’t planning to sell their home anytime soon say it’s because they like their home and have no reason to move, according to the same Redfin survey. More than a quarter (27%) say it’s because their home is completely or almost paid off, and roughly one in five (21%) are staying put because home prices are now too high.