07/22/2026
The Wall Street Journal reports boomers are changing how they retire, with more choosing space for aging in place and multigenerational living. In North Texas, farmhouse character, mature trees, and roomy lots continue to resonate.
Well-off boomers are increasingly upsizing their homes as they age, either buying bigger ones or financing additions to their existing properties.
In the process, they are rewriting the rules of retirement and aging, when people are expected to move into smaller homes to save money.
Boomers make up the largest share of home buyers in the U.S.—an aspect of a housing market that is out of reach for younger buyers, but well within the economic powers of an older generation that controls the bulk of the nation’s wealth.
Downsizers account for a slightly larger share of older home buyers, but the upsizers are quickly gaining momentum. About 7% of buyers ages 61 to 70 said the main reason they chose their new home was because they wanted more space, up from 4% for that age group in 2016, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Interior designer Wendy Glaister noticed her empty-nest clients starting to upsize after the Covid-19 pandemic. Lockdowns made them appreciate time with loved ones, and the spread of remote work made it possible for adult children to visit for longer stretches. Couples now see their late-in-life residences as their dream homes.
“It is a celebration of their life and achievements and being able to invest in themselves,” Glaister said. “If it’s not the right thing and you downsize, it’s almost like a sentence.”
Financial adviser April Tardiff, who's had eight clients retire this year—with every single of them upsizing—said, “The historic retirement play of sell your home and buy a smaller one just isn’t happening.”
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