It's a growing trend in the United States that families are living together in every combination you can imagine. Adult children are moving home or never leaving in the first place. Grandparents are moving in. Grandchildren are taking up residence in their parents' childhood bedrooms.
Some families share space to save money while others have a parent move in to make caregiving as convenient as possible. It can be a mutually beneficial arrangement from a financial standpoint and strengthen family bonds as well. 'Multigenerational' is a term used to describe three or more generations.
It used to be that Americans age 85 and older were most likely to live in households with more than one generation. But now it is young adults who lead the way. About 24 percent of adults ages 25 to 34 have multigenerational living arrangements compared with 23 percent of older seniors.
Sharing space, sharing responsibility
Ongoing conversation is vital before combining households, depending on the health and ages of those involved. Consider:
- What is a timeline that works? Adult children moving home may be temporary but taking care of grandparents could be a long-term solution.
- Who is going to be responsible for which bills and/or future expenses?
- What about responsibilities of those family members not living under the same roof? Can they provide childcare, drive to appointments or handle online bill payments?
- What guidelines do you need for tasks such as laundry, cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping? Ground rules now may prevent disagreements later.
- Which home improvements are necessary, if any, and who will pay for them? Especially when older relatives are moving in, you may need renovations, such as a separate entrance, wider doorways, grab bars, dimmer switches and more.
- How often will you have check-in conversations to clear the air or make changes? Don't be afraid to set a timeline everyone can agree to at which point changes will be made. Be intentional and be considerate.
Tax and legal considerations
In an effort to avoid probate on their home, elderly homeowners may consider adding a family member to the title. A potential disadvantage of this arrangement would be that the original owner cannot sell or refinance the property without the permission of the other new owner. Be sure to consult tax and legal advisors should you choose to add someone to the title of your home.
Take your time with renovations
An entire industry has sprouted to accommodate the intergenerational housing trend. Don't rush into a complete overhaul of your home to make room for others. Consider the impact of changes you make now on the future resale value. Talk with your financial representative about long-term effects a construction project or costly move could have on your retirement and other goals.
What about inheritance?
Finally, there may be potential heirs who aren't part of the living arrangement. Does financial support of some have an impact in the future? It's wise to have a frank conversation now and consult financial advisors along the way.