One result from the great shortage of affordable homes in Seattle and across America is the sharp rise in multigenerational households. The numbers are at or above record levels and it’s safe to surmise they will continue to increase amid the current housing, economic and financial challenges at least partially caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
One in five Americans live in a multigenerational household – a level not seen in the U.S. since the early 1950s. A record 64 million people live in homes that include at least two adult generations or grandparents and grandchildren younger than age 25, according to Pew Research.
Homeowners, sometimes unexpectedly, face a scenario where another member (or members) of the family wish to join the household. Each person in this potential living environment will have needs and wants, requiring a new set of challenges and opportunities for household members.
The best advice for all parties in a multigenerational household is to discuss the matter before acting upon it. New living arrangements, while often created out of necessity, are important to think through first – to establish rules and boundaries for the health and welfare of all. AARP produced a great article on this topic, including a series of thoughtful questions to ask before jumping in to a new setup.
The numbers of multigenerational households started rising sharply during and after the Great Recession (2007-2009) and has slowed slightly in recent years. Asian families comprise the largest such group, with 29% of that demographic living in a multigenerational household, followed by 27% of Hispanics and 26% of Blacks. Pew said people born outside our country are most likely to live in this type of household in the U.S.
The dynamic of people from opposite ends of the age spectrum living under the same roof could be challenging. Adjustments will be necessary, such as adding grab bars, a walk-in tub or a raised toilet seat in bathrooms for new-arriving senior family members. Others find moving to a more suitable home – possibly with an extra bedroom, bathroom and sitting area for additional family members – works better.
Experts say the key to success is to provide adequate privacy for all members of the home. Call it the social-distancing model of home living, circa 2020s.
When possible, rooms should be flexible as needs change. That could include fixing up (or building anew) rooms with the ability to customize for different types of usage – office, bonus room, as well as multigenerational space. If looking to buy, many people warm to the idea of a guest suite with full bath and walk-in closet.
The advantages to this arrangement can be many, including having more hands to help around the house – to prepare meals, for example – and possibly avoiding the cost of outside caregivers for older family members or young children. Recent stay-home orders following the virus outbreak has made for extreme challenges to working parents of school-age children but having an additional adult(s) in the home may ease that burden.
“The best care is from family members who enrich lives and offer a history of knowledge, and it’s a great reason for multigenerational living,” says Jay Kallos, senior vice president of architecture at Ashton Woods Homes, a homebuilder developing multigenerational options, as quoted by Realtor® Magazine. The most common type of multigen household – home to 32.3 million Americans, as of 2016 – consists of two adult generations, such as parents and their adult children.
Home builders are reacting to the demand with a variety of apartments, condos and single-family homes, according to the magazine. For example:
- Rather than reinvent new plans, Meritage Homes is adjusting existing designs. In its Summit II community in Roseville, Calif., buyers can pick models with a guest bedroom or guest suite and flex space that could function as an office, den, dining room, or multigen gathering area. Many homes offer a larger kitchen with a nook, island and adjacent great room to accommodate larger gatherings.
- Riaz Capital, a development, construction, and property management company, is taking a different approach to meet demand with its affordable rental units in multifamily buildings and townhouses. Focused on buyers who need to cut housing costs, the firm delivers suites that offer comfortable daily living but share larger communal spaces. Riaz Taplin, owner/founder of the Oakland, Calif., firm, expects demand for this type of housing to grow as single-income professionals become a larger proportion of the population and seek to cohabitate or care for family members while scaling back on housing costs.
“We learned from our work as a traditional multifamily developer what residents were willing to pay for. Many didn’t want roof decks, parking garages and gyms, which would raise expenses, but they do want nearby public transportation,” Taplin shared with Realtor®.
Closer to home, Stone Bridge Homes NW offers layouts for multigen living, calling it “two homes in one.” Adair Homes promotes multiple floor plans for “your growing family.” And American Classic Homes is currently building single-family houses in Green Lake with 400 sq. ft. accessory dwelling units (suitable for a family relative, guest or renter).
“The home building industry is much more conscious of this buyer and knows that each generation needs an ‘away space’ so they can have friends over or calm down if problems arise,” Kallos says. His Atlanta-based firm is developing plans that vary, from a room that includes a refrigerator, microwave and access to a separate garage to some with dual master suites on different levels, separate exterior doors and stairs from the main living area to secondary quarters, and outdoor space.
The more space the better to provide privacy and help ease any tensions that may arise over time. Having an established set of rules for sharing space and living in harmony will help bring mutual understanding to the situation.
However it’s achieved and through whatever family rules, multigen home solutions can provide a positive return for families that understand and plan for everyone’s needs.