John Varano

In recent years, there's been an increasing number of older Americans who rent rather than own their own home. But is renting really a better choice for retirees looking to reduce costs and obligations? Well, not necessarily. While it's true that homeownership brings with it ongoing expenses like routine maintenance and property taxes that continue even after you've paid off your mortgage, renting can't offer some of the benefits that homeownership alone provides. For example, equity. Once you've built up equity in your home, you can take out a line of credit and borrow money from your home's value. Obviously, this can be a good option for older homeowners on a fixed income. Also, provided you have a fixed-rate mortgage, your house payment isn't subject to the ups-and-downs of the market the way rent can be. As a renter, you're at the mercy of your landlord. After all, they own the house or building you're living in and can set the price to their liking. Like anything, there are pros and cons to owning a home during retirement. However, homeownership provides a valuable asset that can be advantageous for retired homeowners in a position to benefit from it.