Increasingly, many families are moving away from the classic nuclear family and turning instead to older traditions of having multiple generations of family living under one roof. To make this living situation more comfortable for everyone, new homes are being built with what amounts to an apartment within a home, providing privacy and autonomy for everyone, and creating more benefits for the entire family. As a home builder in NJ, we offer what we call our in-law suite as a customization for a large variety of our floor plans.
Multi-generational homes are those with more than two adults living in a household or grandparents living with grandchildren under the age of 25. While it’s more common for parents to move in with children, there are instances where older children move back in with their parents.
Both situations often relate to financial reasons. Sharing the expenses of a home often makes more sense. One larger home may be more affordable than two separate homes. It can also be a way to save money for adult children to put toward their own home eventually. It can also be financially sound to have grandparents available to look after young grandchildren rather than pay the high costs of daycare.
Another benefit of a multi-generational household is sharing the regular maintenance. For older adults, it can become difficult to keep up the maintenance of a large home without help, while for younger adults, they may be too busy with work to keep up with daily chores. By combining families, the workload can be split up according to abilities, easing the workload for everyone.
While financial and maintenance benefits are important, many people choose this lifestyle to create stronger family bonds. Grandparents can be excellent role models for young children, and children develop greater respect and empathy. The sharing of knowledge – whether helping with homework or sharing family history – is also important. Furthermore, older adults are less likely to suffer from loneliness and depression when they feel useful and wanted.
Still, having multiple generations living together in one household can be challenging if there isn’t enough dedicated space for everyone in the home to have their privacy and necessary autonomy. This is why specially designed homes with an in-law or bonus suite are important. These homes typically have what amounts to two primary suites and often include a sitting room and sometimes a kitchenette in the bonus suite to create a home within a home so that everyone can have some peace and privacy when needed. Some in-law suites even include a separate entrance. This provides a retreat for everyone and allows the common areas, such as the main kitchen and family room, to be a place where the whole family can spend time together. This separation can reduce family friction.
If you’ve been considering the benefits of a multi-generational home, we invite you to look at our floor plans and contact us to see how we can help you incorporate an in-law suite into your own ideal home. As a home builder in NJ, we understand the benefits and needs of multi-generational homes and are happy to help you build your own ideal home for the whole family.
