Does Your Current Home Fit Your Retirement Plans?

Retirement sneaks up on you. One day you're climbing the career ladder, the next you're wondering if those stairs in your two-story home are going to become your nemesis.

I've helped a lot of Jacksonville retirees figure this out, and I'll tell you what I tell them: The house that worked for your family of four might not be the best fit for the next 20+ years of your life.

The Florida Reality Check

Here in Jacksonville, we've got something special. Ocean access, mild winters, no state income tax—it's why Florida remains a retirement hotspot. But our local housing market has shifted dramatically.

In the last three years, Jacksonville home prices have jumped nearly 35%. The median home in our area now sells for $320,000, up from $237,000 in 2020. That equity growth is fantastic if you're selling, but it also means property taxes and insurance costs have climbed too.

Truth is, some of my clients are house-rich but cash-flow poor. They're sitting on significant equity while struggling with monthly expenses.

What's Really Important Now?

Think about your daily life now versus what you want it to be. Do you:

• Spend hours maintaining a yard you rarely use?
• Have empty bedrooms collecting dust instead of memories?
• Live far from healthcare facilities you're visiting more frequently?
• Feel isolated from family or the activities you enjoy?

One client told me bluntly: "Nia, I'm tired of cleaning bedrooms when nobody sleeps in and paying to heat and cool 3,000 square feet when I live in just three rooms."

He wasn't wrong.

The Jacksonville Advantage

Our city offers incredible options for rightsizing your retirement:

Beach Communities: Places like Jacksonville Beach and Atlantic Beach offer walkable neighborhoods with easy access to restaurants and ocean views. The premium price tag comes with lifestyle benefits many find worth every penny.

Riverside and Avondale: Historic charm with a vibrant atmosphere. These neighborhoods offer smaller homes with character, plus proximity to cultural attractions and healthcare.

Mandarin and Fruit Cove: Quieter suburban settings with newer developments specifically designed for active adults.

St. Johns and Nocatee: Master-planned communities with amenities focused on active lifestyles and social connections.

The Financial Reset Button

Making a move now could be the financial reset your retirement needs.

Consider this: If you sell a paid-off $500,000 home and purchase a $300,000 condo or smaller house, that's $200,000 potentially added to your retirement fund. At a conservative 4% withdrawal rate, that's an extra $8,000 annual income.

Or as one client put it: "That's my annual trip to see the grandkids in Chicago, plus golf club membership, with money left over."

Not Just About Downsizing

This isn't always about going smaller. Sometimes it's about finding the right layout. Single-level living. Wide doorways. Walk-in showers. Community amenities that make socializing easier.

A couple recently moved from their 2,500 sq ft suburban home to a 2,200 sq ft condo downtown. They actually gained living space because they ditched the formal dining room they never used for a spacious balcony they use daily.

"We traded a lawn mower for sunset cocktails," they told me. "Best decision ever."

The Waiting Game Can Cost You

The mistake I see most often? Waiting too long.

Moving in your 60s is vastly different than moving in your 80s. Making a proactive choice lets you:

• Select exactly what you want rather than what you need
• Build new social connections when you're active
• Adjust to new surroundings while adaptable
• Make the decision yourself rather than having others make it for you

Bottom Line

Your home should support the life you want, not drain the resources you need to live it.

The Jacksonville market remains strong, giving sellers significant advantages right now. But markets change, and timing matters.

Ready to explore what's possible? Let's chat about your retirement vision and how your housing fits into it. No pressure, just practical advice from someone who knows both retirement and Jacksonville real estate inside and out.