- 📈 Adults aged 55+ accounted for over 30% of rental household growth from 2009 to 2019.
- 🏘 The 55+ rental demographic is the only age group with a consistently increasing rental rate since 2005.
- ☀️ Sunbelt states, especially Nevada, are experiencing surges in retiree rental migration.
- 🧑🦳 Today’s older renters seek community-rich, low-maintenance, amenity-filled living.
- 🏗 Developers and urban planners are redesigning retirement housing with renters, not owners, in focus.
America’s housing scene is changing. This is clear in the lives of older adults. Retirement used to mean owning a home. But now it means more flexibility, simplicity, and renting. Adults aged 55 and over are the fastest-growing group of renters in the U.S. They are changing real estate rules everywhere, especially in popular retirement places like Las Vegas.
How Housing Priorities Have Changed for Older Adults
The usual idea of retirement was owning a home fully paid off, often the same one since middle age. People saw it as a sign of financial success and steady living. But today, many older renters are changing this idea of retirement. They care less about owning a home and more about having a good life.
Instead of being stuck with chores, costly repairs, or big financial promises, older renters choose to put time, health, and good experiences first. They like being able to move closer to family, get a smaller place for easier living, or spend parts of the year in different spots (like summers in Oregon and winters in Arizona). This growing trend shows a change: people now value possibilities over things. Retirement is more about how they want to live, not just what they own.
Why Older Adults and Empty-Nesters Choose to Rent
Many older adults rent because it makes sense. Keeping up a home often gets harder as people get older. Things like yard work, fixing the roof, or repairing appliances can take contractors, time, and money. Or worse, these tasks can cause injury. Renting takes away these problems. It makes life easier because someone else handles the upkeep.
For empty-nesters—people who have raised their families and do not need many bedrooms or big backyards anymore—getting a smaller place often means renting. Selling a large home can help pay for a simpler way of life. It also lets them get cash that was tied up in their property. This money can then help with travel, medical bills, or just give them peace of mind.
Older adults are renting more and more because it offers freedom to move around. Renting lets them live near grandchildren or help older friends or family in other cities. They can do this without having to buy property for a long time. Renting also works for people who want to try out a new community before they settle down there for good.
Being social is also a big reason. Many older renters look for lively, walkable neighborhoods where they can easily meet people. Rental communities often have ready-made social events, things to use on site, and shared areas. All these are important for staying connected later in life.
What the Numbers Say About Older Renters
The numbers confirm what people have noticed for years: more older people are renting. The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University said that people aged 55 and older made up over 30% of all new renter households from 2009 to 2019. This is a very large part for a group that mostly owned homes before.
It is worth noting that the 55+ age group is the only one where more people have consistently rented since 2005. This trend has gotten faster because of recent changes in the economy and society. These changes include higher home prices, student debt that families now carry, and new ideas about how to save money and move it around.
Retirement is now not just a new time of life, but also a new kind of housing need. This move towards renting is more than just a personal choice. It shows a big change in city planning, building new homes, and how health care works.
Where Older Renters Are Increasing Most
This trend is happening all over the country, but some states are ahead. Mostly, Sunbelt states are seeing the most older renters. This is because of their nice weather, lower costs, and many services that help retirees.
Florida, Arizona, Texas, and Nevada have always been popular with retirees. These states are now also known as good places for older people to rent and enjoy their life, not just to own homes. Warm winters, low or no state income taxes, and affordable housing make them perfect for the growing number of older renters.
Las Vegas really stands out. It costs less to live there than in other big cities, and it has tax benefits. This is bringing in more and more older renters. The city has communities just for older adults, 55+ developments, and fancy rental homes. These places are all ready for this group of renters.
These renters are not just moving for the weather. They are picking communities that let them stay put as they get older. These places also offer good ways to be social, access to doctors, and easy ways to get around. All this comes with rental living.
What This Means for the Las Vegas Real Estate Market
Las Vegas is seeing a big rise in demand from older adults who want to rent. Neighborhoods like Summerlin, Green Valley, and Anthem are central to this change. This is because of their city design, extra features, and current setups that serve older adults.
Real estate agents are paying attention. Local Realtor Steve Hawks says it is more and more common for clients to sell their main homes in places like California or New York. Then they move to Las Vegas to rent for a long time. This shows older adults are choosing this lifestyle on purpose, not just because they have to save money.
This trend is changing what real estate looks like in Las Vegas. Builders are now balancing how they make traditional homes with offering more quality rental options. And property investors are adding different kinds of properties to what they own. These new properties are easy to keep up, easy to get into, and good for older renters who want to stay for a long time. This means there is more demand for properties that were once not seen as very profitable, like single-story homes and nice apartments for older adults.
What Older Renters Look for in Homes
What older renters want goes past just the size of the place or how many bedrooms it has. Their choices come from wanting things that are easy to use, safe, and good for their health. Key features include entrances without steps, no stairs inside, elevator access, wider hallways, non-slip floors, and laundry machines right in the unit for ease.
Safety is very important. Older renters put gated communities, settled neighborhoods, and good property management first. Being close to medical centers, grocery stores, drug stores, and public transit is also key.
Social options are hugely important. Older adults who rent often look for communities where meeting people is part of daily life. This can be through book clubs, yoga classes, walking groups, and movie nights. Things like pools, gyms, places for pets, and support services on site are often on their must-have lists.
People also want more features that help their health. Things like soundproofing for better sleep, air filters, easy-to-use bathtubs or showers, and thermostats they can program all add to long-term health and comfort.
Kinds of Homes Older Renters Look For
Older renters are open to many different kinds of living places. These are some popular choices:
Single-Family Rentals
These homes feel like owning a house but without the owner’s duties. They feel familiar and good for people who have lived in separate houses for most of their lives.
Townhomes and Duplexes
These smaller homes give the privacy of a house but need less upkeep. They are often one-story and sit in friendly, suburban-like neighborhoods.
Build-to-Rent (BTR) Communities
These newer places are made for people to rent for a long time and to be part of a community. Many BTR types are for older renters who want homes built for their needs. These homes come with top features, shared fun areas, and extra services like rides or help from staff.
Nice Apartment Living
Expensive rentals often have gyms, pools, group activities, shuttle services, and even places to eat inside. They give older renters a resort-like way of life in a building that is well-run.
What these kinds of homes all have in common is that they are easy to keep up and work very well. This lets older adults who rent focus on living instead of chores.
How to Get More Older Renters (for Landlords and Investors)
Landlords need to change to do well in this growing and special market. First, they can make changes to properties like adding walk-in showers, layouts without stairs, brighter lights, and emergency call systems. These can make a place much more appealing.
Second, longer lease terms give older renters the steady living they want. It removes the worry of sudden rent hikes or having to move often.
Marketing should show how easy life can be and how well people can fit into the community. Being close to family, being able to walk places, having a relaxed life, and getting to important services can all be big selling points. Online ads can show pictures and stories from real older adults who rent. This way, people looking to rent can imagine themselves doing it too.
Clever investors might add services that are more than just a home. For example, they could work with local hospitals, offer rides, or have health checks at the property. These extra features make a full living space. This also makes the properties stand out from others.
Building Homes for Older Renters
Designing for older adults does not mean taking away beauty or nice looks. It means mixing good looks with useful features. Homes that work best for older renters should have:
- Single-level floorplans.
- Zero-step entrances and exits.
- Flush thresholds for wheelchair or walker users.
- Non-slip, easy-to-clean flooring throughout.
- Lever door handles and rocker light switches.
- Adjustable kitchen counters or pull-out shelving.
Good soundproofing and lots of natural light help with mental well-being. Technology inside the unit, like security cameras, smart thermostats, and voice assistants, also makes life easier and safer.
Yard work should be done by others or kept very simple. Windows and doors must be very secure. And heating and air conditioning need to work well and without problems. These small details, when put together, help older adults live with respect and on their own.
Problems When Housing Older Renters
Even with the chance this growing group offers, housing older renters has its problems. One issue is cost. Many older adults have money from their home or savings for retirement, but others live on a set amount of money. Making homes that are easy to get into and also affordable—without giving up safety or comfort—is tricky.
Another problem is that older adults are not all the same. A 58-year-old who works part-time from home needs different things than an 82-year-old with health issues. Homes must be able to change in how they are used and designed. Giving different levels of services or having communities where many age groups live can help meet more needs.
Landlords must also follow the Fair Housing Act. If housing is not legally set aside for a certain age (like communities just for 55+), then specific rules or ways to target older people must be done carefully and clearly within the law.
How Real Estate Agents Help Older Adults Move
A good real estate agent can change everything. Helping someone move to a rental after many years of owning a home is more than just a deal. It is a big change in life. Agents need to know about real estate and also how older people think about retirement.
Experienced people like Steve Hawks help clients get smaller places, sell what they own, understand tax effects, and find rental options that fit their long-term health and moving goals. Agents who know a lot about what older adults need become trusted helpers.
In places like Las Vegas, knowing about specific 55+ communities, HOA rules, and health care or transportation systems gives agents a special advantage. Helping older adults who rent find happiness and ease in their new life is where human understanding meets a chance to do business.
What This Means for Future Home Building
As the number of older renters keeps growing, builders have to look again at how homes are usually built. Separate housing for seniors might be replaced or added to by communities where different ages live together. These places would have systems that are easy to use and change. Because of this:
- City zoning rules may change to help build rental homes for many generations and for long-term stays.
- Public transportation could grow to help older people who cannot move around as easily and do not have their own cars.
- Parks or shared areas that welcome all ages will bring all generations together. These places will still make sure they are easy to get into.
Designing for older people is not just a special skill anymore. It is how real estate will be in the future. Putting this design into every step of building makes sure homes stay popular for a long time and help the community.
Final Thoughts: Welcoming Older Renters
The time for being independent is here. Older adults who rent are leading the way. They choose experiences instead of too much stuff, ease instead of duties, and being with others instead of being alone. And they are changing cities like Las Vegas as they do it.
To meet what older renters expect, we must listen to what they find important. We must also design homes on purpose. This means living that is affordable, looks good, helps people, and can change. This kind of living helps them stay healthy and independent. For those in real estate, this older group is not just a market where they can make money, but one that also has meaning.
What’s Happening Now: Real Estate in a Time of Longer Lives
Living longer is changing not just how we age, but also where and how we live. People stay active well into their 60s, 70s, and 80s, so homes must change too. The time when older adults rent their homes shows more than a short-term change. It points to a new idea: life does not stop in retirement, and homes should not either.
New buildings that respect independence and offer shared activities will become more common to meet this need. For now, one thing is very clear: renting for older adults is not about losing something. It is about getting back more of what makes life good.
Citations:
Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. (2023). The State of the Nation’s Housing 2023. Retrieved from https://www.jchs.harvard.edu
Pew Research Center. (2020). About One in Five Americans Ages 65 and Older are Still Working. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org