Housing Needs Are Changing
It’s time. Feel the shift? It’s happening; the shift of families and housing needs. With continued economic eruptions, longer life expectancies, boomers retiring and retirement funds vanishing we are reckoning without housing adjustment. In spite of these issues we are acclimating to new housing choices.
Grandparents and the kids are moving “home”. Grandparents who live beyond 65 now have a life expectancy of 20+ more years. College graduates and twenty-somethings are staying home longer. What used to be a home you scaled down from is now becoming the house you may need to add onto or renovate. A revival of multigenerational living will revolutionize housing.
Where to put everyone?
Separate entrances, different levels, separate kitchen and handicap accessibility are all considerations. Proximity and privacy, designing and remodeling will be needed to accommodate adult children or elderly parents. Homes can be purchased that are close together, on the same property or have “guest quarters.” These are all equitable remedies for multi-generational situations. Considerations that can arise or be useful include co-habitation contracts and/or agreements on child care, parent care, pet care, finances and chores.
We are back to needing large spaces that can accommodate many ages and lifestyles. We are back to our core values and responsibilities for family. We are back to what is financially within our reach.
We will need to constantly shift and realign our values, our homes and our families to accommodate and anticipate what is ahead not only in the housing market but in our lives.
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