MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS

Multigenerational Households

A multigenerational household is defined as more than two generations of the same family living under one roof. Multigenerational households are common in other parts of the world. They are still uncommon in most areas of the United States, but lately they have been growing in popularity. Throughout the country, multigenerational households represent just a fraction of the population. According to the 2000 census, four percent of all U.S. households have three or more generations under one roof. (MAX) This trend is more common in some parts of the country than in others. There are many different reasons for this surprisingly rising trend.

One significant factor for this new trend driven mostly by economics is home prices. The cost of living and owning a home has become increasingly more difficult over the past few years. This is much more common in those markets where affordable housing is scarce. (MAX) California and Hawaii are among those high price markets. California alone has over six-hundred and forty-four thousand households where three or more generations live under one roof. (Seligman) As home prices in many areas have doubled, most incomes have not. In many areas of the country homebuilders and mortgage agencies have taken notice.

Several homebuilders have introduced what is now known as “accessory dwelling units,” also known as “granny flats,” this new feature has become more common in some new housing developments. (MAX) In downtown Orlando, new town homes come with the option of a first floor studio apartment with it’s own entrance. This feature is most popular with families who want private space for their parents or adult children. Almost a quarter of all town homes sold in downtown Orlando consist of some sort of multigenerational arrangement. Ashley Custom Homes in Baltimore has also been receiving requests for homes that would accommodate more family members. “Right now

Ashley Custom Homes is working on a colonial with 5,000 square feet for the main house and 1,200 square feet for the mother-in-law apartment,” says owner, Janice Strauss.

(MAX)

Armstrong Builders, another popular home builder based near Honolulu, has thrived in the island housing market. Island housing has lon...

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...rrangement. My wife and I are expecting a baby boy on the 10th of December and having my in-laws close to us will be a tremendous help. I believe we have grown closer as a family and have built an un breakable bond. We have many other reasons for living in a multigenerational setting One obvious reason of course is the baby, another is that we are young couple and we do not have enough credit history to purchase a home of our own, we are in turn saving for one. We are not the only ones who benefit from our living arrangement but my mother-in-law does too, we help out by doing the grocery shopping home work and occasionally baby-sit and make dinner. These are just some of the reasons why I have decided to live in a multigenerational home setting. After living in one for almost two years now, I have come to love her family as much as my own immediate family. We also have decided that when my wife and I do purchase our own home, that we want my mother-in-law to come live with us in our home, we can in turn help her while she continues to help us with our growing family. After living in a multigenerational household it is plain to see why this trend is growing in popularity.