57 Million People in U.S. Live in Multi-Generational Households
This is one of the most riviting posts I've ever read and I've written a bunch on this very subject. All the more reason to start consideringAccessory Dwelling Units (ADU's) on your property if you can meet the requirements. Great post! I'm going to reblog this.
57 Million People in U.S. Live in Multi-Generational Households.
Multi-generational families are about 18% of all families. This is a record number of 57 Million people living in multi-generational households.
Many families living together consist of the owners of the home caring for their aging parents who move in and take care of their own children at the same time.
We see many grandparents, parents and children living together in one household. While this is very common place in Asia and other countries, it has not been widely done here in the U.S. until recently. In the 1950's the families separated out into different units living apart from one another.
When I was in Japan every family I met was living in a multi-generational home. They thought Americans were strange for not taking care of their aging parents.
My family came from Latvia. My great-grandparents, my grand-parents and my mother all lived under the same roof until my mother got married. I was used to seeing and being around this family make-up.
Nestor was born in Cuba. His family also lived as a multi-generational family because that is what you were taught to do, take care and respect the elderly.
When Hispanics and Asians move here, they mostly keep their traditions of living with aging parents and this is contributing to this growing sector of Americans. This is a big home buyer group. The housing industry is responding.
The drop in people over the age of 80 in nursing homes is half of what it was in 1970. Some of that of course is because we are living longer than in 1970 but the biggest reason by far is that aging parents don't want to live in nursing homes and their responsible adult children don't want them to either.
The other make-up of a multi-generational family are the boomerang kids. The kids go to college and then come back home to live. Sometimes divorce makes for kids and their kids moving back in with baby boomer parents. Sometimes it is siblings offering to live with other siblings and their children due to the recession, job loss and divorces.
Many of these households are adding on to their existing homes and remodeling their homes to better fit all the generations living under one roof.
We strongly suggest that before you add on to your home that you check with your local REALTOR® about how your add-ons will affect your resale opportunities down the road.
When this make-up of a family is looking to buy a new home so they can spread out a little, a 55+ community is NOT going to be the right fit. Builders are cutting back on building the 55+ community because baby boomers still have college aged kids at home and then many of those kids have kids of their own.
Downsizing is not really the focus here. It is about getting large open spaces where the family gets together for meals and interacting.
While it is great to get together in a common living area everyone also needs privacy and a place where they can get away to relax within the home.
Multi-Generational buyers would like to have separate living quarters for the aging parents in many situations. Aging parents still like to feel independent and have some autonomy.
Children still want to have a yard to play in and here in Florida, a pool is a must.
New home builders say that the most requested home to build is the multi-generational home. Lennar has come out with the floor plans called, "Next Gen".
Builders have come up with some amazing floor plans. I saw one where the center of the home was the main gathering area for all members to get together in. Then there were two wings going out on opposite sides of the central area like two different houses.
Most multi-generational new home builds are including kitchenettes, separate entrances and bathrooms. They are expected to account for 40% of home sales in the communities that offer them.
Subscribe To Our ActiveRain Blog
Authored by Katerina Gasset
Nestor Gasset and Katerina Gasset- Realtors®, CIPS, ABR, SFR, GRI, REOS
International Properties & Investments LLCCall us today at 561-753-0135 to get your house sold.Llámenos hoy al 561-753-0135 para vender su casa.
Comments(3)