Boomer, King of Cash

August 9, 2026 | Mark Luis Foster

Turns out that nearly half of older baby boomers in this country are making all cash offers on their (final?) home purchases. According to Realtor.com:

Among boomers aged 71 to 79, 46% purchased their home without financing, while 39% of boomers aged 61 to 70 paid cash, according to the National Association of Realtors® 2026 Generational Trends Report.

Is it an all out rejection of mortgages at older ages?

“Older boomers aren’t necessarily rejecting mortgages. Instead, they are often converting equity in their current home into a new home. At ages 71 to 79, the question is less ‘Can I qualify for a loan?’ and more ‘Would taking on a monthly payment improve my retirement plan?’” says John Donikian, vice president of Best Interest Financial in Detroit.

The report goes on to say that of those baby boomers who did finance their homes, 26% of younger boomers and 35% of older boomers used financing to account for less than 50% of the cost of their home, compared with 13% of buyers aged 18 to 26 and 12% of buyers aged 26 to 35. It shows, according to the report, that even when boomers pursue financing, they’re financing much less of the cost of the home than other generations.

Naturally the more cash the more power in the negotiation.

“Paying cash can make an offer more attractive, simplify the transaction, and eliminate mortgage interest and monthly principal-and-interest payments,” says Donikian. “For retirees on a fixed income, that predictability can provide valuable peace of mind.”

Read all about it HERE.