Greenville has the Liberty Bridge.Falls Park.The Reedy River.Public art.Historic buildings.And then...we have a tree that appears to be trying to crawl down a hill.😂If you've walked or biked
Are Second Homes a Piece of the Retirement Puzzle?
Dated: August 6 2025
Views: 303
Are you wondering if you’re on track to retire someday?
According to Intuit, 69% of people say today’s financial environment makes it tough to plan for the future, and 68% aren’t sure they’ll ever be able to retire. That’s why many people are exploring new ways to build stability and long-term income.
And that’s where real estate comes in.
Why Real Estate? Here’s What It Can Do for You
If you’re able to make the numbers work, buying a second home can be a powerful tool for your future retirement. It could help you:
- Build wealth over time: As home prices rise through the years, your second home should grow in value and increase your net worth.
- Generate extra income: Renting the home could bring in some extra income you can add to your existing retirement savings. Just remember, some of the rent coming in will need to be used to pay that mortgage and maintain that house.
- Profit in the future: You may decide to sell the second home down the road and use the profit from that sale to give your retirement funds a boost.
- Diversify your financial assets: Real estate offers a tangible asset that can help reduce your dependence on just stocks or savings, making your overall financial picture more stable.
Most Second Homeowners Aren’t Big Investors
And if you’re thinking: wait, owning multiple homes is only for big investors – data shows that’s not necessarily true. Many homeowners who buy an additional property aren’t the big investors you hear so much about. They’re people like your neighbors.
In fact, data from BatchData and CJ Patrick Company shows 85% of people who own more than one property have just 1 to 5 homes (see graph below):
That means most who own multiple homes are people (not large investors) who’ve bought an extra home to rent out or hold onto for later.
Why Now Might Be the Right Time
And right now, the door may be opening for buyers like you. According to Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com:
“. . . the balance of power in the housing market keeps shifting in favor of homebuyers. . . A confluence of factors—including more homes for sale, rising price cuts, and slower-moving inventory—is giving buyers more leverage than they’ve had in years . . .”
If you live in an area where home prices are expected to rise, buying another property now and selling it later could help fund your future. Or you could rent it out and earn income now.
Start with Just a Few Trusted Pros
If this idea sounds interesting, the most important first step is to connect with a few key people who can guide you through the process:
- A local real estate agent who understands the market
- A lender who specializes in second home or investment loans
Surrounding yourself with the right pros can help you make confident decisions from day one.
Bottom Line
Talk with a local real estate agent about what’s possible. They’d love to help you explore whether owning a second home could bring you more security and peace of mind for the road ahead.
If a second home could help you retire earlier or with more freedom, would you want to take a closer look?
Jamie Church
Born and raised in Greenville, SC, Jamie Church has had the privilege of experiencing the beauty and growth of one of the best cities for over 40 years. After graduating from Eastside High School, Jam....
Latest Blog Posts
If you’re thinking about buying a home in Greenville, South Carolina, you’ve probably seen plenty of headlines lately about mortgage rates.And yes, mortgage rates have moved higher. In
I have a theory about cities.If you really want to understand one, don't only visit its shiny new stuff.Find out what it kept.That's especially true in Greenville's West End.Today you can walk down
Price cuts are turning up everywhere right now, and they read very differently depending on which side of the deal you’re on.Sellers tend to worry a cut means walking away with less than
Canopy MLS® Copyright ©2026 All rights reserved.
© 2026 The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Western Upstate Association of REALTORS®, Inc. or Western Upstate Multiple Lisitngs Services of South Carolina, Inc. This information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Neither, the Western Upstate Association of REALTORS®, Inc. or Western Upstate Multiple Listing Service of South Carolina, Inc., nor the listing broker, nor their agents or subagents are responsible for the accuracy of the information.
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Property information provided courtesy of the Internet Exchange Program of the Greenville Association of Realtors.
The information being provided is for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Data is updated as of September 29, 2026 1:03 PM UTC
Spartanburg Association of REALTORS® All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumer's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be
