The Rise of Multigenerational Living

Production builder Lennar began constructing its line of Next Gen homes nearly 10 years ago around the time the financial crisis hit, as more families were opting for multigenerational living situations. At the time, Lennar’s decision for its Next Gen homes came from families who needed to take care of their aging parents, but also to make homeownership more affordable. According to the Washington Post, between 5 to 10% of Lennar homes have a Next Gen suite. These suites are attached to the main home and offer a mix of privacy and togetherness.

When Bryan and Cheryl Edwards’s daughter Rachel Cordova went on her first date with her future husband Jason Cordova, she told him that she was a “package deal” because of her close relationship with her parents.

Thankfully, Jason accepted the package since the couples now live together along with the Cordovas’ two young children, Nora, 5, and Grant, 3.

“We’re fully ambulatory and independent and still working, so we don’t need to be living with our daughter, we’re just a close family,” says Cheryl, who is 61. “When we lived close to each other in Connecticut, Rachel wanted us to move in with them, but it wasn’t until Bryan was in the hospital for a week that I realized I didn’t want to deal with snow and home maintenance on my own. We sold our house and they added an in-law suite to theirs.”

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