$200 MONTHLY HOUSING COST

What would life look like if your housing costs in retirement were just $200 a month?

And no — this doesn’t involve camping gear or moving to a remote jungle halfway around the world. This is $200 a month right here in the USA.

Everyone’s situation is different, but there are some exciting housing opportunities in retirement.

Here's a 3-part strategy that could help you design that fully alive retirement life you dream of.

Step 1: Right-Sizing

Right-sizing isn’t just downsizing — it’s making sure your home still works for you: financially, physically, and emotionally.

Ask yourself:

• Do I want to spend my retirement maintaining a big yard or cleaning rooms I rarely use?

• Could I lower my costs — mortgage, heating, cooling, taxes, and upkeep — by living in a space that fits my life today?

For example, let’s say your current home is 2,500 square feet and you right-size to 1,700. If homes in your area average $200 per square foot, that’s a $160,000 difference in value ($500K vs. $340K).

Add that lower mortgage payment with lower property taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance for a smaller home, and the savings get even bigger.

But right-sizing isn’t just about saving money — it’s about choosing a home that fits your life today—freeing up time, energy, and finances for the people, passions, and experiences that make this season of life rich and meaningful.

Step 2: Reimagining Your Location

Right-sizing is powerful on its own, but combine it with reimagining your location, and suddenly, your retirement possibilities expand in amazing ways.

My mom’s story is the perfect example.

She raised nine kids in a big house with a big yard — perfect for that chapter of her life. But when the kids were grown, the neighborhood changed, and the upkeep became too much—my sweet mom made a bold decision. She reimagined her life in a new location and moved to a small town in Virginia.

She got to know her new community, joined a new church, and built friendships. Every visit, she’d hug herself and say, “Oh, I just love my little dollhouse!”

She was living her fully alive retirement life!

If you’re not tied to a job, ask yourself:

• Do I want milder winters or year-round sunshine?

• Would a smaller town with less traffic be a better fit for me?

• Could a new community offer a fresh start and a deeper sense of belonging?

Reimagining your location isn’t just a change of address— it’s designing the way you want to live in this next season.

This Tale of Two Laurels is a real-life example of what this could look like.

I grew up near Laurel, Maryland. One day, I accidentally searched for homes in Laurel, Mississippi (instead of Laurel, Maryland) and was shocked at how adorable and affordable homes were!

• In Laurel, MD, a 3-bed, 2-bath home averages $420,000 — about a $2,600/month house payment

• In Laurel, MS, a similar home costs $185,000 — about a $1,100/month house payment

That’s a $1,500 difference every month — basically a bonus Social Security check!

When you’re no longer tied to a job location, your income stays the same — but your cost of living can drop dramatically!

Step 3: Leveraging Your Home Equity — The Game Changer

Let’s pull it all together through the eyes of Mr. and Mrs. Savvy Senior.

They purchased their home in Laurel, Maryland, 15 years ago. It's now worth $420,000 with $165,000 left on the mortgage, giving them $255,000 in equity. This house payment in Maryland is $1,900/month.

Now, Mr. and Mrs. Savvy Senior are reimagining retirement in a new location.

If they sold their home in Maryland, they could purchase a similar home in Laurel, Mississippi, for $185,000 — in cash!

Their monthly housing costs would drop to $200 (for taxes and insurance). They’d pocket about $70,000 from the sale and free up $1,700 every month.

That’s real breathing room — enough to travel, golf, invest, bless the grandkids, or simply relax knowing they’ve built financial margin into their retirement.

Living Fully Alive — Your Version

This three-part strategy — right-sizing your home, reimagining your location, and leveraging your equity — could be the difference between scraping by and living fully alive in retirement.

Everyone's numbers will look different. Maybe you’ve got $100K in equity and finance part of your next home. Or maybe it’s simply reimagining your location — finding a town that’s a little more affordable and a little more you.

The goal isn’t to live smaller — it’s to live smarter. To trade stress for freedom, flexibility, and joy. Because retirement isn’t about slowing down — it’s about finally living the life you’ve worked so hard for.

🎥 👉Watch my full video on this topic, where I show each of these homes in detail, and start imagining how a $200-a-month house payment could change your fully alive retirement life — watch it HERE. 🏡