For many older homeowners, the question is not whether to move, but whether their current home can continue to work for them. Aging in place can mean staying in a longtime family home, downsizing within the same community or making targeted improvements that allow a homeowner to remain independent longer.
According to AARP’s 2024 Home and Community Preferences Survey, 75% of adults aged 50 and older want to remain in their current home as they age, while 73% want to stay in their current community. At the same time, 44% of adults 50 and older say they expect to relocate at some point. That creates an important opportunity for real estate professionals to help homeowners think through their options before a move becomes urgent.
For agents, conversations about aging in place can begin long before a client puts a home on the market.
Start the Conversation Before a Move Is Necessary
Aging in place is easier to plan for when there is time to consider the options. Rather than waiting until stairs, maintenance or mobility become immediate concerns, agents can encourage older homeowners to think about how their home may serve them five, 10 or even 20 years from now.
That conversation does not necessarily have to lead to a sale. In some cases, the best solution may be a home modification. In others, a different property or neighborhood may better support the homeowner’s future needs.
The agent’s role is to help identify the housing questions that deserve attention and connect the homeowner with appropriate professionals.
Evaluate the Home for Future Needs
A home that works perfectly today may become more challenging over time. Agents can help homeowners evaluate practical features such as the number of stairs, bedroom and bathroom locations, entryways, lighting, storage and yard maintenance.
AARP reports that among older adults considering modifications, bathrooms and accessibility around the home are among the most common areas they expect to address.
Simple changes can sometimes make a meaningful difference. A first-floor bedroom, step-free entry, improved lighting or a bathroom with accessible features may help a homeowner remain comfortable without undertaking a major move.
Look Beyond the House
Aging in place is also about the community.
Access to health care, grocery stores, transportation, recreation and social connections can become increasingly important as driving habits or mobility change. A home that is affordable and comfortable may still be a poor long-term fit if essential services are difficult to reach.
Agents can help clients evaluate walkability, transportation options, proximity to medical facilities and access to family or other support systems.
This broader perspective can also reveal opportunities. A homeowner who wants to remain in the same community may be able to move into a smaller, more accessible property nearby rather than leaving a familiar area altogether.
Discuss the Financial Side of Staying Put
Remaining in a current home can provide stability, but it is important to consider the ongoing cost of ownership.
Property taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance and future accessibility improvements all factor into the long-term picture. Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies notes that rising insurance, property taxes, utilities and maintenance costs are creating increasing financial pressure for homeowners, particularly older adults on fixed incomes.
A mortgage professional can help homeowners understand how refinancing, home equity or other financing considerations may fit into a broader housing plan. Tax and investment questions should be directed to qualified financial or tax professionals.
Talk About Downsizing Without Making It the Default
“Downsizing” can carry an assumption that older homeowners should automatically move into a smaller property. That is not necessarily the right answer.
Some homeowners want less maintenance. Others want additional space for family, hobbies or caregiving. Some may prefer a condominium, while others want to remain in a detached home.
The better conversation is about right-sizing the home for the homeowner’s priorities.
Agents can ask questions such as: What does the homeowner enjoy about the current property? What has become difficult? Which spaces are actually being used? What would make daily life easier?
Those answers can help determine whether staying, modifying or moving makes the most sense.
Prepare for the Possibility of a Future Move
Even homeowners committed to staying put may eventually decide that a different home would better meet their needs.
Agents can help by encouraging clients to think ahead about what they would want in a future property. Single-level living, fewer maintenance demands, proximity to family and accessible community amenities may become more important than the features that drove the original purchase.
Having these priorities established before a move becomes necessary can make a future transition less stressful.
Build a Team Around the Client
Aging-related housing decisions can involve more than an agent and lender. Depending on the situation, homeowners may benefit from conversations with contractors, aging-in-place specialists, insurance professionals, financial planners, tax professionals and family members.
The agent does not need to provide every answer. Providing trusted connections and helping coordinate the conversation can be just as valuable.
Aging in Place Is About Creating Choice
The most productive aging-in-place conversation is not about convincing a homeowner to stay or move. It is about creating options.
AARP research shows that most adults 50 and older want to remain in their homes and communities, but many also recognize that their future needs may change.
Real estate agents are uniquely positioned to help homeowners plan before circumstances force a decision. By looking at the home, neighborhood and financial picture together, agents can help older homeowners approach their next chapter with greater clarity and more choices.
For many older homeowners, planning the next chapter does not necessarily mean moving. It may simply mean taking a closer look at what their current home offers, what changes could make it work better and whether another option might be a better fit down the road. Real estate agents can help clients start that conversation before a move becomes urgent.
For more guidance on the mortgage side of those decisions, agents can explore the home financing resources available through Mutual of Omaha Mortgage.
