Planning to age in place? Watch out for these hidden costs.

Planning to age in place? Watch out for these hidden costs.(8 min)(8 min)A majority of older Americans prefer to age in place. Remaining in an existing home has powerful appeal compared with uprooting one’s life and relocating to somewhere new and unfamiliar. The perceived loss of independence and control that accompanies moving into an assisted-living facility adds an additional layer of concern.While the emotional benefits of aging in place are understood, the financial consequences are often underestimated. The strong desire to remain at home can lead owners to downplay future expenses and assume things will somehow “work out.” Those unanticipated costs can quietly erode retirement savings if retirees aren’t prepared. About the AuthorEdd and Cynthia Staton are experts on expat life in retirement. They have appeared on network television and are regularly featured in the media. They have written three books about their adventures and created a program to educate others on retiring abroad.A Dow Jones CompanyCopyright © 2026 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved.