.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} In the midst of an unstable housing market, nearly three-fourths of retired Americans plan to hold on to their homes rather than sell or downsize, according to the latest Principal Financial Well-Being Index, while 21 percent of working Americans who are five years from retirement plan to keep their homes during retirement.

The quarterly index, conducted by Harris Interactive, surveyed 1,214 employees at growing businesses with 10 to 1,000 employees and 554 retired Americans in August.

The survey found that of the 65 percent of workers who own their primary residences, 36 percent have less than 20 percent equity built up in their homes. The majority of retirees (60 percent), on the other hand, have their homes completely paid off.

“The current home mortgage instability is a critical issue for Americans’ sense of financial well-being and long-term financial security,” said Dan Houston, executive vice president of retirement and investor services at Principal. “Those with inadequate savings during retirement might be forced to consider home equity as a source of retirement income.”

However, the majority of retirees and working homeowners have not considered taking out a reverse mortgage or selling their home to fund retirement. Still, 67 percent of workers and 52 percent of retirees surveyed are concerned about their long-term financial futures.

Working Americans are most concerned about being able to enjoy the same quality of life during retirement that they enjoy now (39 percent) and being able to afford good medical care (39 percent). Among retirees, the ability to afford good medical care was the primary concern, followed by outliving savings and the ability to pay for basic necessities.

Despite these concerns, 45 percent of workers and 61 percent of retirees have not received any financial planning assistance, and though 42 percent of workers think they should save 11 percent or more of their pre-tax salary for retirement, only 11 percent actually do.