2026 Is Shaping Up To Be a Wild Year for Retirement Moves. Here Is Why You Should Pay Attention.

Look, every week some expert in a three piece suit pops up on TV yelling that the housing market is either exploding, collapsing, or doing yoga. Meanwhile, regular people are just trying to figure out if they can retire without selling a kidney.

But this week something interesting bubbled up across the public feeds. Redfin, Business Insider, and a handful of other folks started hinting that 2026 might be one of the smartest windows for retirees to make a move. And for once, I’m not rolling my eyes like I do when someone tells me their neighbor bought at the peak and still thinks it was a genius idea.

This shift is actually worth watching.

Mortgage Rates Might Finally Chill Out

Redfin’s analysts are projecting that 30 year mortgage rates could settle around 6.3 percent in 2026. Is that perfect? No. But compared to the last couple of years where the rates felt like someone launched them into the stratosphere, this is practically a spa day.

Lower rates mean the monthly payment game starts to make a little more sense. And if you are a retiree or planning on it soon, this change can be a massive deal. A small rate drop can save you thousands over the life of your loan. That is more money for beach days, grandkid bribes, or whatever hobby spirals you have planned.

Home Prices Are Slowing Down and Buyers Are Finally Catching a Breath

Another interesting nugget. Home prices are still rising, but barely. Around one percent. That is basically the real estate version of your uncle saying he is starting a diet tomorrow.

Meanwhile wages are projected to grow around four percent. Translation. People might actually be able to afford things again. Imagine that.

For retirees, a cooler housing market means you are not racing through showings like it is a Black Friday doorbuster. You can think, compare, breathe, maybe even look at two houses in a row without feeling like you are in an episode of Survivor.

Inventory Is Slowly Crawling Back In

We are not back to pre COVID levels, but more homes are hitting the market. Sellers are sticking their heads back out of their foxholes and testing the waters. That means more choices for you. More neighborhoods. More price points. More chances to find that next best place that does not come with a surprise alligator in the backyard.

This matters since everyone in retirement planning wants something different. Some of you want mountains, some want sunshine, some want to be closer to the grandkids, and some want to be as far away as legally acceptable. No judgement.

More inventory means more options. And options are how you win at retirement relocation.

So What Does This Mean For You Right Now

If you are planning on retiring soon, or you are already retired and thinking of making a move, here is your playbook.

1. Start Scouting Your Next Place Right Now

Before the crowds show up. Know the towns. Know the cost of living. Know the taxes. Know whether the grocery store near your dream home sells that ice cream you like after 9 p.m.

2. Run the Long Term Numbers

What will the payment look like today versus 2026. Do you win by waiting. Do you win by acting now. Run both scenarios and see which one makes your wallet cry less.

3. Choose Lifestyle Over Hype

Price is important, but look deeper. How close are the hospitals. What are the crime rates. The insurance. The weather patterns. The real question is not what looks good on Instagram. It is where you want to drink your morning coffee without your blood pressure spiking.

4. Stay Flexible

If 2026 becomes a sweet spot for retirees, the demand rush will hit fast. Those who are prepared will snag the best spots. Those who wait might get stuck picking from the leftovers, like the last turkey slice at Thanksgiving that even the dog sniffs and walks away from.

Your Retirement Move Might Get Easier, Not Harder

This whole shift is the rare thing in real estate. A chance to plan with a little less chaos. And for retirees, that is huge. The years around your retirement should be the time when you set yourself up in a place that actually supports you, not a place that makes you feel like you are trapped inside a financial escape room.

And that is exactly why I created Retirement Life USA. To help you find your next best place with real data, real talk, and none of the brochure sparkle.

You want to go deep. I have the Next Place Relocation Deep Dive.
You want to explore your options. My national network of one hundred forty thousand agents has you covered.
You want books, behind the scenes breakdowns, and weekly private conversations inside The Encore community. You get all of that.

Retirement is not guesswork. At least it should not be.

If You Want My Full List of 2026 Retirement Hotspots

Make sure you are on this week’s Prime Time newsletter. I will drop the towns, the states, and the data that tell you exactly where the smart money is heading next.

Subscribe. Share. And remember to loosen up. If you are thinking about making a move in the next year or two, this is your moment to get ahead of the crowd instead of chasing it.

Let’s go find your next best place.