Inflation and Housing Costs Weigh on Older Homeowners, Longbridge Financial Survey Finds

First findings from the 2026 Longbridge Financial Home Equity Confidence Index show only 28% of homeowners 55+ expect their finances to improve next year, with significant differences in financial confidence and concern by income and gender

PARAMUS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Longbridge Financial today released the first findings from its 2026 Longbridge Financial Home Equity Confidence Index, a new research initiative examining how homeowners age 55 and older think about their financial situation, home equity, and the tools available to access it.

The first release, Inflation and the Financial Pressure on Older Homeowners, finds that rising costs dominate the financial concerns of older homeowners, while relatively few expect their financial situation to improve over the next year. The findings also reveal significant differences in financial confidence and concern by household income and gender.

Inflation and the rising cost of living emerged as the leading financial concern, cited by 67% of homeowners surveyed. That is 24 percentage points above healthcare costs at 43%, the second-highest concern. Property taxes and home maintenance costs are each cited by 38%, while 26% cite homeowners insurance. Overall, nine in 10 homeowners surveyed cite at least one of the financial concerns measured.

“The topline inflation number is important, but I think the more revealing story is what sits underneath it,” said Chris Mayer, CEO of Longbridge Financial. “The financial pressure we’re seeing among older homeowners isn’t uniform. When you dig into the data, you see that confidence looks very different depending on household income, and women are reporting greater concern than men across several financial pressures. That matters because the averages only tell us so much. If we want to understand how older homeowners are really feeling about their financial security and retirement, we have to understand who is feeling confident and who is facing more uncertainty right now.”

Most Older Homeowners Expect Little Change in the Year Ahead

While rising costs rank prominently among financial concerns, most homeowners 55 and older expect their financial situation to remain relatively unchanged over the next year.

Twenty-eight percent expect to be better off financially, while 44% expect their situation to stay about the same and 23% expect to be worse off. Another 5% say they do not know what to expect.

The findings show that those expecting their financial situation to improve outnumber those expecting it to worsen by 5 percentage points, while nearly half anticipate no change.

Financial Confidence Varies Significantly by Income

The survey also finds substantial differences in financial confidence across household income levels.

Among homeowners 55 and older earning $100,000 or more, 76% report feeling confident about their long-term financial security. That compares with 58% of households earning between $50,000 and $100,000 and 39% of those earning less than $50,000, a 37-point difference between the highest- and lowest-income groups.

The difference is also evident when homeowners consider their ability to afford everyday expenses. Eighty-six percent of respondents earning $100,000 or more report confidence in their ability to cover those expenses, compared with 57% of those earning less than $50,000.

The largest income-based difference highlighted in the report involves leisure and travel in retirement. Seventy-nine percent of homeowners earning at least $100,000 express confidence in their ability to afford leisure and travel, compared with 36% of those earning less than $50,000, a 43-point difference.

Women Report Greater Concern Across Several Financial Pressures

The survey also finds differences in the financial concerns reported by women and men age 55 and older.

Home maintenance produces the largest gender difference highlighted in the report, with 45% of women citing it as a major financial concern compared with 31% of men, a 14-point gap.

Women are also more likely than men to cite homeowners insurance, 29% compared with 23%; inflation, 69% compared with 64%; and debt payments, 24% compared with 20%.

“The differences by income and gender add important context to the overall findings,” Mayer said. “Confidence in long-term financial security varies considerably by household income, while women report greater concern than men across several of the financial pressures measured. Looking beneath the topline numbers helps us better understand the different financial circumstances older homeowners are navigating.”

About the Longbridge Financial Home Equity Confidence Index

The Longbridge Financial Home Equity Confidence Index examines how older homeowners think about their financial situation, home equity, and the tools available to access it. The 2026 Index is based on a national survey of 2,021 U.S. homeowners age 55 and older conducted by Morning Consult between March 26 and April 5, 2026.

The survey was designed to reflect a broad cross-section of older homeowners across age, region, income, and education and was conducted without reference to Longbridge to ensure unbiased responses. Findings from the Index are being released across a series of reports examining key financial and housing issues among older homeowners.

About Longbridge Financial

Longbridge Financial, LLC (NMLS #957935), is a nationally recognized mortgage lender and servicer focused on helping older homeowners access their home equity through flexible, responsible lending solutions designed to support a more secure retirement. Founded in 2012 and led by a respected Ivy League professor, the company combines deep industry expertise with a strong commitment to education, innovation, and transparency. Guided by a mission to empower aging Americans, Longbridge Financial provides the tools and insights they need to help make confident financial decisions in or near retirement.

For more information about Longbridge Financial or interview requests, visit longbridge-financial.com/newsroom.