I'm 66 and have roommates. It helps me make extra money and pay off my home.

Darlene McCord-Ochoa helps pay her mortgage by renting out rooms in her home.

Courtesy of Darlene McCord-Ochoa

• Dee McCord-Ochoa makes extra income by renting out rooms in her home.
• She lost her income in 2008 and still has a mortgage on a home she bought in 1999.
• The extra income allows her to make upgrades to the house and support family members financially.

This as-told-to essay is based on conversations with Dee McCord-Ochoa, 66, a business development professional and homeowner in Fort Lauderdale...