Are you a baby boomer that needs the equity in your home to fund your retirement?

If so, you might want to take action sooner rather than later because most boomers no longer have the choice of playing the long game when it comes to recovering from home equity losses.

I say that because we are likely on the precipice of another major downturn in U.S. housing prices.

Years to Get Back to Break-Even.

After the 2006 to 2012 downturn in U.S. housing prices, real U.S. home prices didn’t get back to break-even until 2021 – or 15 years after the 2006 peak. Source: Case-Shiller.

After the 2006 to 2012 downturn in California housing prices, real CA home prices are still struggling to get back to break-even through Q1 2025 – i.e. 20 years later – and remain 5.3% lower than 2006 peak prices. Source: Federal Home Finance Agency (FHFA)