Acting legend Glenn Close, 77, says she prefers to live in ‘modest’ $699K 3-bedroom Montana home — likes to ‘see the mountains’ and ‘say hi to neighbors.’ 3 things American seniors can learn

“All of my siblings live here,” Close told The Wall Street Journal. “My modest, 1892 brick house has a porch where I can see the mountains and say hi to neighbors.”

Close’s three-bedroom, three-bathroom home is only 2,316 square feet and blends historic charm with modern amenities, like stainless steel appliances. She purchased it in 2016 for $699,000 — a sum well below what a Hollywood name can afford.

But Close is happy where she is, and her attitude is one American retirees can surely learn from. Here are three takeaways from her approach that older Americans can take to heart.

1. Less space buys you more financial flexibility

In 2011, nearly 11.2 million older American households were cost-burdened, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

Cost burden means you spend more than 30% of your income on housing, including utilities, taxes and insurance. By contrast, owning a home well below what you can afford allows you the flexibility to do other things with your money.

A 2024 Transamerica survey found that 68% of people dream of traveling in retirement, while 53% look forward to pursuing hobbies. If you keep your housing costs low, you can free up money to enjoy fulfilling experiences.

2. There’s value in being surrounded by nature

Nature has been associated with improved cognitive function, brain activity, blood pressure, mental health, physical activity and sleep, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The wonderful thing about Close’s setup is that nature is at her doorstep. And that doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. It’s comforting to live in a quiet area as a retiree that gives you easy access to nature.

Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System gathered between 2011 and 2019 found that older adults in particular can benefit from access to green and blue spaces — meaning, areas like parks and forests with natural vegetation, or bodies of water, respectively.