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Last week I saw a statistic that may surprise many. According to Pew Research Center, the number of multi-generational households has more than quadrupled in the years from 1971 and 2023. USAFacts.org puts the number at about 4.8 million multigenerational households in 2022 or 8% of the current population.

Multigenerational households aren’t new and have for years hovered around 3.8% of all households. There are many reasons for dual generational living. Some are simply a lifestyle preference, specifically for different ethnic groups. You just take care of your folks. Certainly, during the pandemic, having the grandparents under your own roof seemed like a safer place than an assisted living facility.

But multigenerational living has many different nuances. Back in 2011, Lennar pioneered the concept with their trademark Next Gen series of houses. The typical living arrangement included a small private living room, bedroom, and bath. The living room often included a small kitchenette, table, and stacked washer and dryer. It is a wonderful alternative for an aging parent – especially if they are no longer fit for driving. Ideally, the suite includes a separate outside entrance.

If designing for an aging parent, consider a minimum of 2’-8” doors – 2’-10” if the square footage will allow for wider hallways. I would recommend a zero-threshold shower with a seat and both an overhead and hand held shower head. The entrance to the suite should also have no steps and a path no steeper than 5%.

Zoning Restrictions

But there are many challenges to the type of home. First, there are zoning restrictions. If the suite included a range – it was considered a two-family dwelling and not allowed in a single-family zoned community. The result is a kitchenette that could include a microwave, sink, and refrigerator.

Some clever builders would try to sneak a 220 outlet for a range under the radar. Other municipalities would consider it a disallowed two-family dwelling if there were two front doors visible from the street. Indeed, many dual generational suites include a separate entrance door 90 degrees to the street.

Other communities embrace the idea of two living quarters on the same lot. Celebration, Florida allows for what some call a “granny flat” above the garage – which was frequently detached.

However, the idea of putting granny on the second floor where she would have to negotiate stairs seems counterintuitive. Indeed, this living arrangement is more suitable for the boomerang college student moving back in with Mom and Dad for a time.

The Car Problem

Multigenerational living comes in a variety of forms and sizes. Not all are ideally suited for the Lennar solution. Chances are the boomerang college student has a car. In a granny flat over a three-car garage works but less so if there is only a 2 car garage with flat above.

A boomerang offspring might also include the single mom – either never married or divorced – who moves back in with mom and dad for both affordability reasons and childcare. This household would need to accommodate the third car unless located near mass transit.

Whether it’s the boomerang or aging parent, both would appreciate a degree of privacy. The separate entrance is great for this, but a second door that connects to the main house is also often included.

If the suite has a future life as an Airbnb, having a lock on the door should be a consideration. But from which side? Are you locking someone out of the main house or the main house from the suite? A detached casita solves this dilemma as each dwelling would have its own lock.

What about acoustical privacy? The same common door should be a solid core door for sound isolation. When my mother was a widow, she thought the house was too quiet with just her so she had cable news every waking hour – and the volume would allow her to hear the news whether she was in the room or not. Talk about LOUD. Doubling up on a drywall layers or sound batt insulation could go a long way!

When considering a collection of single family homes, having a couple of dual generational options in your collection is a great strategy. If you are a 100% move-in-ready builder, I would do the market research on the take rate of this option and the ethnic make up of your market. We have found that the popularity of this living arrangement varies greatly by region. What is your observation? Please reply and let me know.