Can I afford to keep my house after I stop working?
It may be possible, depending on the legal, financial, and property details involved. Your retirement housing decision should balance monthly cost, equity, maintenance, location and how well the home may work as your needs change. A sale is one option, but it should fit the larger retirement plan.
Use the future housing budget—not the old working budget
Calculate the full monthly housing cost after retirement, including the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, HOA dues, utilities, maintenance, and expected repairs. Compare that amount with reliable retirement income and the cash reserves that should remain available. A decision that releases equity or lowers maintenance can still create a higher payment if the replacement home, financing, taxes, or HOA costs are greater.
Stress-test the monthly cost
Compare the payment with retirement income under several conditions, including higher insurance, property taxes, HOA dues, repairs, and healthcare costs. Keeping a mortgage is not automatically good or bad; the important questions are whether the payment is sustainable, what cash would be used to pay it off, and how much flexibility remains afterward.