To that effect, many are planning major home remodeling projects or even upsizing their homes. Almost 40 percent are planning major home improvements over the next three years — and, perhaps surprisingly, they're more concerned with the amenities than with renovations that would make a house more elder-friendly, such as projects that would reduce maintenance needs or improve accessibility. 

While 75 percent of those who plan to stay where they are believe that their homes are places they can stay in as they get older, only 58 percent of those homes are a single story; only 47 percent are low-maintenance; and just 27 percent have accessibility features for special needs or disabilities. 

Considering that 75 percent of boomers have already had a brush with some sort of chronic health condition or health incident, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, obesity, emphysema or cancer, that may be a trifle optimistic. 

Even if they're planning to move rather than modify their existing homes, their attitude toward retirement communities seems to be, "Fuggedaboudit!" Not only that, they're mostly making like acorns and not moving far from the tree (their old homes or neighborhoods).  But they may find it a bit tougher to do all this fancy upgrading in the wake of the financial crisis. According to the report, "Had growth in net worth continued its pre-2008 trajectory, the typical boomer household would have a net worth roughly 2.5 times what it is today. Although many have delayed or modified their plans, post-crisis, they have not abandoned them entirely, and boomers will spend $1.9 trillion on new home purchases and $500 billion on rent in the next five years." 

This is despite the fact that, according to the research, "boomers are still retiring or planning to retire when they reach their mid-60s. Fewer than half of boomer households are retired today, but a majority will be retired five years from now. Are they ready? With median assets of $240,000 — more than half of which is tied up in their homes — many boomers still have a ways to go." 

Ironically, those who are looking to upsize their homes actually intend to spend less, at $180,000, than those who plan to downsize (and are more affluent), who are budgeting around $200,000 for the purpose. 

Boomers may also be laboring under the misconception that they'll find it easy to get a mortgage for these late-life dream homes they envision. For one thing, they're already carrying a much heavier load of mortgage debt than previous generations of their age group; the median outstanding mortgage balance for boomers is up 142 percent since 1992. More than half of them (56 percent) will be looking for a mortgage for those new and grander homes, and most (77 percent) expect to get whatever financing they need. 

Where does that leave retirement? Maybe a long way down the road.