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Midwest Canada Minute - April 24, 2011

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX of Lloydminster

The New Normal:  Multi-generational Housing 

We are seeing an increasing number of homes with three generations living in them - children, parents, and grandparents - all under one roof.

There are several reasons for this trend, the most common being the cost of third party child care.  Grandmothers, even grandfathers, have again become the live-in nannies for their adult children, just as it was often the case in the early twentieth century.

Multi-generational housing is particularly popular with western Canada's growing immigrant population and those from the Maritimes here for the employment opportunities the region's oil economy offers. 

Asian clients often seek houses that can provide both permanent accommodations for close family members plus temporary space for aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Although I am sure there will naturally be tensions with sharing, it can also provide substantial financial and emotional support for those struggling with a new country, language, and culture.

What I am amazed at is how quickly the children assimilate into the community, often providing a bridge for their elders to use.  We often meet with adults who bring their oldest child along to ensure we are communicating clearly with each other.

I have observed that each ethnicity brings with it a certain preference in the type of housing.  South Asian families seem to prefer detached homes with no more than two levels; while Europeans are quite comfortable with the semi-detached townhouses and duplexes.

There is also an increasing trend for widowed / single elders to move in with their children, as an alternative to living alone in an apartment in their home community.  This brings with it certain challenges as the primary living space needs to be more accessible than is commonly available in a community that has a predominately younger population.

Mom or Dad requires a good sized main floor bedroom with a bathroom close by and no stairs between there and the dining / living area.  Some baby boomers are starting to realize that the features their parents benefit from also can ease their activities of daily living too.  Universal design considerations include roll out pot and pan drawers, walk in pantries, island counter tops, well placed lighting, shower stalls with benches, wide doorways, etc.

The most forward thinking home owners plan a space for extended visits by aging family members that can also double as a guest room for friends or younger members of the family.  It is a rare week that our Group doesn't get a request for multi-generational housing, so this is definitely an area that builders should keep in mind for their next project.

Vern McClelland is an associate broker with RE/MAX of Lloydminster and a partner with The Midwest Group.  If you have questions or comments on this article or other real estate matters, he can be reached at 780.808.2700 or through the website www.wesellmidwest.ca

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