How many retirees still have a mortgage?
Mia Horton
Updated on January 21, 2026
Increasingly, though, people retire owing money on their homes. The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances found that 37.6% of households headed by people age 65 to 74 had a mortgage on their primary residence in 2019.
What percentage of retirees have no mortgage?
According to a 2019 report from Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies, 46% of homeowners ages 65 to 79 have yet to pay off their home mortgages. Thirty years ago, that figure was just 24%. There are several smart ways to retire without a mortgage.What percentage of retired people have a mortgage?
Across these three metros, an average of nearly a quarter — 23.64% — of homeowners 65 and older have a mortgage. That's about five percentage points higher than the 50-metro average of 18.91%.Do most retirees have a mortgage?
The survey, "Retirement and Mortgages," by national mortgage banker American Financing, found 44 percent of Americans between the ages of 60 and 70 have a mortgage when they retire, and as many as 17 percent of those surveyed say they may never pay it off.Is it a good idea to have a mortgage in retirement?
Monthly mortgage payments make sense for retirees who can do it comfortably without sacrificing their standard of living. It's often a good choice for retirees or those just about to retire who are in a high-income bracket, have a low-interest mortgage (less than 5%), and benefit from tax-deductible interest.Is it OK to Retire With a Mortgage? | Surprising Results
What percentage of retirees are debt free?
Average Retirement Debt: The NumbersThree in 10 devote more than 40% of their monthly income to debt and a quarter have a mortgage with more than 20 years remaining on it. More than half say they intend to enter retirement debt free, but only one-quarter of retired Boomers actually are debt free.
At what age should mortgage be paid off?
You should aim to have everything paid off, from student loans to credit card debt, by age 45, O'Leary says. “The reason I say 45 is the turning point, or in your 40s, is because think about a career: Most careers start in early 20s and end in the mid-60s,” O'Leary says.Is it better to retire without a mortgage?
Most people would be better off not having mortgages in retirement. Relatively few will get any tax benefit from this debt, and the payments can get more difficult to manage on fixed incomes. But retiring a mortgage before you retire isn't always possible.Can a 65 year old get a 30 year mortgage?
Can you get a 30-year home loan as a senior? First, if you have the means, no age is too old to buy or refinance a house. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits lenders from blocking or discouraging anyone from a mortgage based on age.At what age are most people mortgage-free?
While the average age borrowers expect to pay off their mortgage is 59, the number of survey participants who have no idea when they will pay it off at all stood at 16%. In 2019, 9% of those asked didn't know and in 2020, 11% gave this answer.What percentage of people over 65 still have a mortgage?
We found across these 50 metros that an average of nearly 19% of homeowners who are 65 and older still have a mortgage. Beyond that, we also found that homes owned by people in this age group tend to be less valuable than those owned by the general population — and that their monthly housing costs tend to be lower.How many retirees are in debt?
Roughly 46% of all Americans expect to retire in debt, according to a report.Can you get a mortgage with only Social Security income?
Getting a mortgage when your only income is Social Security benefits is no different than applying for a home loan when you have a job. You'll need a down payment, proof of income, a qualifying debt-to-income ratio and a viable credit score.Can you buy a house on Social Security?
Home buyers can use any income from the Social Security Administration when applying for a mortgage.Do retirement accounts count as assets for mortgage?
Equity AssetsIf you have any retirement accounts, stocks or mutual funds, these are considered equity assets. Be sure to include these on your home loan application.