For many retirees, the home they’ve lived in for decades is their single largest asset and a cornerstone of retirement security. Yet rising property values — paired with a capital gains tax rule that hasn’t changed in nearly 30 years — are leaving more older adult homeowners feeling stuck.
The problem: if you sell, the tax bill on decades of appreciation could be massive. If you stay, you may forgo downsizing, relocating, or unlocking substantial home equity to fund retirement.
