Retirement Life
11 February 2026
How to ‘downsize’ without going anywhere
Home – and the community around it - may be where your heart is, but it’s often where all the cash is too, making it hard to fund your retirement dreams without selling up.
Moving out and ‘downsizing’ has been a key plank in many Kiwis’ retirement plans for years. But after spending years building a life and a community, the idea of being wrenched away from that can be heartbreaking.
What’s more, estate agency fees, moving costs and the tweaks you need to make to the new home can quickly eat a hole in the money downsizing might free up. And moving into popular retirement areas often doesn’t come cheap either.
But there is another way, Lifetime Home is like ‘downsizing’ without leaving the home and community you love.
Judith’s Lifetime Home experience
Judith*, a retired social worker, considered downsizing after finishing her 50-year career. However, the numbers just weren’t adding up.
“By the time I paid for a new place and the costs of moving, I’d be no better off. And I love my home. It’s where I feel happiest,” she says.
Judith’s experience is common. Many retirees want to stay in the home and community they’ve built their lives around. But they also need extra income to cover everyday costs or to enjoy a few luxuries after decades of work.
How much would you get a fortnight with Lifetime?
“Your home is more than four walls and a roof,” Lifetime Income Retirement managing director Ralph Stewart says. “It’s where you’ve built your life, where your friends live nearby, and where you feel most comfortable. Why should people have to give that up just to get some financial breathing room to be comfortable in retirement?”
Aging in place with Lifetime Home
Lifetime Home means there is a new alternative to moving out, or severely pruning back your retirement dreams. Lifetime Home enables retirees to release the capital built up in their home to spend in retirement - without being uprooted from their home and community. The ‘downsize’ is not in your home, but in the equity held within it.
It works by allowing homeowners aged 70 and over to sell a portion of the equity held in their home at a discount, in exchange for regular fortnightly payments over 10 years.
Unlike reverse mortgages, (Read Lifetime Home is not a reverse mortgage. Here’s why.), there’s no loan and no debt, so no compounding interest to worry about. Just a predictable stream of payments that can supplement NZ Super.
Homeowners know from the start just how much of their property they’ll keep at the end of the agreement (normally 65%). They can then live in the home for as long as they like.
“It’s about dignity and independence,” Stewart says.
“We want to help people to live well, in the home they love, without the pressure of taking on debt or being forced to sell and move.”
Costs like rates, healthcare, or help around the home can be hard to fund on NZ Super alone, which is why Lifetime Home is so helpful. While for some the extra cash it provides each fortnight means a more comfortable retirement, for others it’s a path to aging in place, when that place is in the community you love.
The value of ‘aging in place’ is more than just money
Ageing in place — living independently in your own home and community for as long as possible — is something most Kiwis aspire to. It’s also a policy goal for New Zealand’s health system, given the social and wellbeing benefits of keeping older people connected and comfortable in their communities.
Remaining in one's own home and community – offers significant benefits:
- Better health outcomes: Familiarity with surroundings reduces stress and supports mental wellbeing
- Maintained social networks: Staying connected with established friends and community reduces isolation
- Greater independence: Knowing your neighbourhood and having established support systems
- Emotional security: The comfort and memories associated with a long-term home
- Community contribution: Continuing to participate in local activities and volunteer work
Can you 'age in place' with Lifetime Home?
Want to know if you and your home are eligible for Lifetime Home, click here to fill in an eligibility assessment.
*Names have been changed to protect privacy.
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Written by:
Sonia Speedy
Sonia Speedy has been a journalist for over 20 years, working in newspapers, magazines and radio. She also runs an online platform for parents at familytimes.co.nz. She lives on the Kāpiti Coast with her young family and loves writing stories that help make people's lives easier.
Invest with Lifetime for a retirement income managed for living.