A Generational Housing Story
We just put our home on the market. As we were preparing the marketing, the words came to mind, taught to me by Martha Webb through her CHMS Class.
She teaches to always ask a seller, “what made living here special?”
For me, it was the opportunity to live in a house big enough to enjoy three generations living together under one roof for two years.
When we build our 3500 sf home in 2008, we did so with the idea that one of our sets of parents would end up living with us. but sadly that did not work out.
In the mean time, I got a call from my daughter and son-in-law asking to meet with us.
With a 2 year old, they were ready to expand their family but their tiny 900 sf ranch was just too small. Much to their disappointment their house was upside down, they owed too much to try to sell it.
Long story short, we had a great conversation and decided they could move into the 3 bedrooms, 2 bath upstairs of our home. We wrote a contract with them, they were to pay off their debt year one and then save for a downpayment year two. We also helped them rent their existing house, at a slight loss each month.
It is now two years later, they recently moved into their dream home in West Hartford Connecticut and my daughter is expecting their next child.
What were those two years like? Heaven! Dinner time was always a family affair, kind of big with four adults and one child. We shared cooking and shopping detail. Clean up was always a draw. Gatherings happened all the time with all age groups. It allowed me to get to know many twenty to 35 year olds that I would never have had the pleasure of meeting.
I will miss my grandson coming down to jump on our bed while we drank our morning coffee. My daughter says he doesn’t see us as “grandparents,” but as part of his family.
Did we get in each others way? Sometimes, but my daughter became one of my best friends, and I came to respect and adore my son-in-law. Generational Housing is on the rise and one of the top housing trends for the next ten years.
I know we had the optimal situation with a house big enough. So all those lovely memories are in my house and I hope someone else can enjoy this easy to live in and love . . . home.
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2 Responsesto “A Generational Housing Story”
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Amy,
I absolutely love and relate to your story. Thank you for putting into words a topic dear to my heart.
I agree that this is up and coming and for sure already in practice… even before it became a true sign of the times and a tremendous opportunity for families to find their way home……..
Cher
This is a great story. It worked for us too, for a while anyway. Early in 2000, my sister, husband and new baby had just returned to my Mother’s house from the Middle East, my brother also returned from there around the same time and a few months later, I arrived with my dog after having lived in Prague for almost 10 years. Four adults, one child and one dog. It was a full house indeed. Plus my Father was working a few hours away and would return on weekends. My Mom was great and very accomodating for sure. Only one bathroom! We made it work and had fun!