Retiring Soon? Why Moving Might Be the Perfect Next Step
If you’re thinking about retirement or have already retired this year, it’s a good time to consider if your current house is still a good fit for the next chapter in your life.
Fortunately, you may be in a better position to make a move than you realize. Here are a few things to think about as you decide whether or not to sell and make a move.
From 1985 to 2008, the average length of time homeowners typically stayed in their homes was only six years. But according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), that number is rising today, meaning many homeowners are living in their houses even longer (see graph below):
When you live in a home for a significant period of time, it’s natural for you to experience a number of changes in your life while you’re in that house. As those life changes and milestones happen, your needs may change. And if your current home no longer meets them, you may have better options waiting for you.
Additionally, if you’ve been in your house for more than a few years, you’ve likely built-up significant equity that can fuel your next move. That’s because the longer you’ve been in your house, the more likely it’s grown in value due to home price appreciation. Data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) illustrates that point (see graph below):
While home price growth varies by state and local area, the national average shows the typical homeowner who’s been in their house for five years saw it increase in value by nearly 60%. And the average homeowner who’s owned their home since 1991 saw it more than triple in value over that time.
Whether you're looking to downsize, relocate to a dream destination, or simply be closer to loved ones, your home equity can be a key to realizing your homeownership goals. NAR shares that for recent home sellers, the primary reason to move was to be closer to loved ones.
Whatever your home goals are, a trusted real estate agent can work with you to find the best option. They’ll help you sell your current house and guide you through buying the home that’s right for your lifestyle today.
Retirement can bring about major changes in your life, including what you need from your home. Let’s connect to explore the available homes in our area.
Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.
Single-family home prices surged by more than 16% year-over-year, marking one of the strongest January performances in recent memory.
Single-family home prices posted modest year-over-year gains across both counties, while the condo market continued to slide with double-digit declines in Contra Costa… Read more
The San Francisco housing market closed out 2025 with impressive year-over-year gains in median sale prices. Single-family homes saw an 8.63% increase, with the median… Read more
As we moved through the holiday season, inventory levels dropped significantly across the East Bay.
The single-family home market is on fire in San Francisco right now, as the median sale price for a single-family home is reaching the highest level it’s reached in th… Read more
It’ll be important to pay attention to how this market evolves over the seasonally slow winter months, as dwindling inventories might drive prices up over time.
Last month we saw a big upward swing in median sale prices for single-family homes in San Francisco.
Listings are spending a lot more time on the market than they were last year, with single-family listings spending more than 20% longer on the market.
While much of the Bay Area is experiencing inventory issues, the vast majority of areas are seeing inventories begin to pile up. As we know, San Francisco has the oppo… Read more
You’ve got questions and we can’t wait to answer them.