Homeowners selling later in life often face reduced sale prices starting around age 70, with the discount growing larger as they age. Recent analysis from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College indicates that sellers in their 80s receive about 5% less for a home held for roughly 11 years compared to those in their 40s and 50s.
On a typical U.S. median home price of $405,400, this translates to a $20,270 shortfall. The disparity continues to expand with advancing age.
Why Older Sellers Experience Lower Returns
Homes sold by older owners frequently show deferred maintenance or lack recent upgrades, impacting prices even after adjusting for location and market factors. Older sellers also tend to opt for private, off-market transactions that bypass the public Multiple Listing Service (MLS), limiting buyer competition and attracting more investors, which correlates with lower offers.
The study matched CoreLogic housing data—including sale dates, prices, and deed types—with voter registration records for U.S. citizens’ primary residences to determine seller ages. Researchers performed repeat-sale comparisons using data from 1998 to 2022.
Baby Boomers and Housing Trends
Baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964 and now in their 60s and 70s, number 65 million—20% of the U.S. population and 36% of homeowner households. Many plan to age in place, with 68% of boomer homeowners intending to stay put, contributing to tight inventory and high prices, though conditions are easing.
Median home equity for those 65 and older reached $250,000 in 2022, a 47% rise from $170,000 in 2019, per Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. This equity accounts for about 50% of median wealth in that age group.
Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research at the National Association of Realtors, notes that sellers now transact at older ages. The NAR’s 2025 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends report shows 38% of 70-to-78-year-olds have lived in their home for 21+ years, rising to 44% for ages 79-99. That older group also posts the highest share—15%—selling below 90% of list price and offers fewest buyer incentives like warranties or closing cost help.
Strategies to Maximize Home Value
Experts urge retirees and pre-retirees relying on home equity to address pricing risks proactively. Joon Um, a certified financial planner with Secure Tax & Accounting in Beverly Hills, California, explains that lower prices often stem from neglected maintenance and rushed sales due to cash shortages. “Small fixes get delayed, then buyers notice everything at once and price it in,” Um said.
Advance planning pays off: reserve funds for upkeep, declutter gradually, and integrate the sale into a comprehensive retirement strategy to avoid distress sales. Family members should monitor older relatives’ properties. “To the extent that you have a relationship with an older person, protect their interests and make sure they’re taking care of their house,” advised Philip Strahan, coauthor of the Center for Retirement Research report.
Understand sales options fully, consulting trusted advisors or family. Some prioritize privacy via private sales despite lower prices, or skip costly repairs for a negotiated discount, Lautz added. Ultimately, treat the home as a key retirement asset. “Managing it proactively can protect both value and cash flow,” Um emphasized.
