Downsize or equity release – which is best for me?
Simon Stanney
Group Head of Equity Release Marketing and Distribution
Last updated 20th August 2021
5 min read
If you have equity tied up in your home, you could unlock some of it through equity release or by downsizing. Here we briefly compare the two options.
Two options for accessing your equity
When people retire, they tend to face a loss in income. This can mean a drop in the standard of life they’re used to. As a result, people are looking to their property wealth to support them financially in later years.
There are several options available and it’s important to consider the financial, practical and emotional implications.
There are two main ways to convert some of the value of your home into cash:
Downsizing
Selling your home in order to buy a cheaper property. It may be smaller or in a lower priced area. Once you’ve sold, and all costs have been paid, you keep the money left over.
Equity release
A financial arrangement that can provide a tax-free lump sum, a regular income or both, while still living in the comfort of your current home. The equity release provider is repaid when your home is sold. This is normally when you die or move out permanently into long-term care.
Downsizing
Benefits
Things to be aware of
- Expensive moving costs - As well as the purchase price of your new home, estate agent fees, legal fees, removals and possibly stamp duty, will need to be factored in to the numbers.
- Home improvement costs - You may also have to spend money on improving your new home to make it how you would like it.
- The emotional cost - If you've lived in your home for many years, the emotional upheaval of selling up may be hard to contemplate, especially if it has been the family home. The hassle and stress of a move may also feel like too much of an ordeal.
- Less support - Moving could be an opportunity to start afresh, however for some people it may mean leaving behind the support of family and friends currently on your doorstep, which can become even more important as you get older.
Downsizing
- Expensive moving costs - As well as the purchase price of your new home, estate agent fees, legal fees, removals and possibly stamp duty, will need to be factored in to the numbers.
- Home improvement costs - You may also have to spend money on improving your new home to make it how you would like it.
- The emotional cost - If you've lived in your home for many years, the emotional upheaval of selling up may be hard to contemplate, especially if it has been the family home. The hassle and stress of a move may also feel like too much of an ordeal.
- Less support - Moving could be an opportunity to start afresh, however for some people it may mean leaving behind the support of family and friends currently on your doorstep, which can become even more important as you get older.
Equity release
Benefits
Things to be aware of
- Reduces inheritance - An equity release scheme is usually repaid from the proceeds of the sale of your home, so you can’t pass on the property itself as an inheritance. And even if you only release a small amount of the equity in your home, this will still reduce how much your estate is worth.
- How much you can release - You can’t access 100% of the equity in your home. How much you can get will depend on the value of your property, your age and your state of health among other things.
- House prices - With a home reversion plan, you sell all or some of your home to the plan provider at a discounted price and neither you, nor your family, will benefit from any future rises in house prices on the portion you sold.
- Interest - Alternatively, with a lifetime mortgage, interest can mount up quickly, so the longer you have the loan, the more will need to be repaid when the property is finally sold.
- Costs - As with any financial product, there are costs involved in arranging an equity release plan, such as set up fees, legal costs and fees for the required financial advice. These costs will ultimately depend on the amount released and the type of plan you choose.
Equity release
- Reduces inheritance - An equity release scheme is usually repaid from the proceeds of the sale of your home, so you can’t pass on the property itself as an inheritance. And even if you only release a small amount of the equity in your home, this will still reduce how much your estate is worth.
- How much you can release - You can’t access 100% of the equity in your home. How much you can get will depend on the value of your property, your age and your state of health among other things.
- House prices - With a home reversion plan, you sell all or some of your home to the plan provider at a discounted price and neither you, nor your family, will benefit from any future rises in house prices on the portion you sold.
- Interest - Alternatively, with a lifetime mortgage, interest can mount up quickly, so the longer you have the loan, the more will need to be repaid when the property is finally sold.
- Costs - As with any financial product, there are costs involved in arranging an equity release plan, such as set up fees, legal costs and fees for the required financial advice. These costs will ultimately depend on the amount released and the type of plan you choose.
Always seek advice
Downsizing or using equity release to access the cash tied up in your home is a big decision. It will need careful consideration and it will likely have an impact on your family so it’s important to include them in your plans too.
As with any major financial decision, before doing anything you must speak to a qualified specialist who will take you through all the options available to you in detail.If you’d like to find out more, we have a useful equity release guide explaining how it works and the different plans available.