Grow wealth from the home you own
Yes, the home you already own can help fund your retirement, and you don't have to sell up to do it. You can renovate and stay, renovate and sell, add a granny flat, or turn part of your home into income. The right move depends on your numbers, so you work those out first.
By Bernadette Janson · Last updated 2 November 2026
Who this path is for
Women 40 plus who own a home, often with more equity than super, and want it working for their retirement.
- You'd like more income in retirement, or less debt going into it.
- You're weighing up whether to renovate, sell, downsize, develop or stay.
- You want a plan you understand before you spend a dollar.
Want to buy and renovate projects for profit, one after another? That's the other path.
How can I use my home equity for retirement?
There are five main ways. Which one suits you depends on your home, your timeline and your numbers.
Renovate and stay
Lift the value of the home you live in with a Cosmetic Plus renovation: kitchens, bathrooms, paint and floors. Your equity grows while you stay put.
Good to know: No walls coming down, so this kind of work usually doesn't need council approval. Rules vary, so check with your council.
Renovate, then sell or downsize
Add value before you sell, then buy something smaller and keep the difference. Our own family home paid off our mortgage: an extra $230,000 at sale, from a strategic renovation.
Good to know: If you plan to sell, be willing to hold. Never bank on selling on your timeline.
Add a granny flat or second dwelling
Rent it out, or live in it and rent out the main house. Either way, your land starts paying you while you stay where you are.
Good to know: A second dwelling needs approval. Depending on your state, that may be a development application or a faster complying development pathway. Check before you spend anything.
Turn part of your home into income
I call it a money tree. One level of our home became one, bringing in $50,000 to $70,000 a year. It might be short-stay guests through Airbnb, or a long-term tenant.
Good to know: Short-stay rules differ by council and by strata. Check yours first.
Develop
Subdivide, or build something new on your land. It's the biggest move of the five, with the most approvals and the longest timeline.
Good to know: Only do this when your numbers and your timeline both support it.
Which move is right for you? Start with your numbers.
Every option above works for someone. The question is which one works for your home, your timeline and your numbers. Here's the order I recommend.
01
Your Home's Retirement Plan
$49
Four steps to the right first move for your home: renovate, sell, downsize, develop or add a granny flat.
02
Retire Richer with Renovating
$99
My 11-lesson course: the 4D Pathway, three ways to make your equity work, managing the risks, and a one-page plan. Lifetime access.
03
Richer with Reno Club
$99 a month
The full course library, live sessions every month, a community of women doing the same thing, and a weekday hotline to me.
Women using the home they already own
$400,000
Amali and Richard
Added home equity, plus $30,000 a year in extra retirement income.
$350,000
Suzanne
Increase in value on a home project, before she moved into flipping.
$50,000+
Carly
In Airbnb bookings within six weeks, on a later project.
$230,000
Bernadette
Extra at sale on our own family home, from a strategic renovation. It paid off our mortgage.
Student results shared with permission. Results are individual and not typical or guaranteed.
Questions women ask about home equity
Can I use my home equity to fund my retirement?
Do I have to sell my home?
Is it too late if I'm 60?
Do I have to do the renovation work myself?
Where do I start?
Is this financial advice?
Ready to make your home work for you?
Start with the plan, or come straight into the Club. Either way, your next move will be a considered one.