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Older Americans have significant equity
As current and future retirees consider how to manage their assets, one area where they may be tying up a lot of equity is their homes, which begs the question: “Should I pay off my mortgage?”
According to Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, homeowners ages 65 and older had an average home equity of $250,000 in 2022, a 47% increase from 2019.
When some retirees move, they tap into that equity instead of taking out a new mortgage.
“We’re seeing more cash buyers,” said Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist at the National Association of Realtors.
In its 2023 annual report on home buyers and sellers, the trade association found that about a third of younger baby boomers ages 59 to 68 had recently purchased homes with cash. This figure is up to 43% among older baby boomers aged 69 to 77, and around half among the silent generation.
Some experts argue that old homeowners could also benefit from paying off their mortgage debt, freeing up more monthly income.
“If you can reduce your current expenses, that can provide a lot of peace of mind and give you a lot more room to be flexible with your portfolio withdrawals,” Benz said.
Mortgage interest rates can affect the payout calculation
The mortgage repayment calculation could change depending on whether people can beat their mortgage interest rates with safe, guaranteed investments, Benz said.
Benz and her husband paid off their mortgage more than a decade ago. But what was the right answer then might not be the case today, she said.
Whether or not you pay off your own mortgage—whether you're retired or not—depends on both whether it makes financial sense and how it feels emotionally, explains JL Collins, financial blogger and best-selling author, Benz in her book.
For mortgages that are 3% or less, paying them off doesn't make sense because there are better returns to be had in the stock market, Collins said. With mortgage interest rates of 6% or higher, paying off this balance provides a guaranteed return. And with interest rates between 3% and 6%, it depends on what borrowers are most comfortable with, he said.
Benz said she recently saw the other side of the debate when she suggested to a friend that she use her inheritance to pay off her mortgage. Her friend was completely opposed to the idea, she said.
“It's like, 'Why not get rid of this regular monthly bill?'” Benz said. “And her point was, 'No, seeing my portfolio shrink that much would feel terrible.'
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Ted Jenkin, a certified financial planner and CEO and founder of oXYGen Financial, an Atlanta-based financial advisory and wealth management firm, tells CNBC that he typically recommends clients pay off their mortgages when it makes sense, even if they're not retired .
“A lot of people I help pay off their mortgages say, 'It's so great to go home and know I own this property; no one can take it away from me,'” said Jenkin, who is also a member of the CNBC FA Council.
Eliminating mortgage debt could also provide career flexibility to start a business or pursue other goals, he said.
Admittedly, the argument over whether to pay off mortgages is “much more emotional and psychological than financial,” Jenkin said.
In other words, there is no one right answer. The same applies to other topics that Benz addresses in her book.
Emotional questions about preparing for retirement
What's notable is that the book's content is roughly evenly split between financial and non-financial content. The big money questions people ask themselves as they prepare for retirement are just as important as the emotional ones.
What brought you joy while you were working might change in retirement, Michael Finke, a professor of wealth management at the American College of Financial Services, tells Benz. Therefore, you shouldn't think of retirement as just relaxation, because you need something to relax.
While goals like playing golf or visiting your children may take a few days, ask yourself what the entire 365 days of a year will look like in retirement, Jamie Hopkins, chief wealth officer at WSFS Bank, tells Benz.
Ultimately, retirement offers individuals a new opportunity to reinvent themselves.
It's an opportunity to ask yourself, “What would I regret?” “Often it's the chances we don't take that haunt us on our deathbed,” says Jordan Grumet, a hospice doctor, author and podcast host, towards Benz.