Why More Buyers Are Looking for Homes With In-Law Apartments

Homes with in-law apartments are becoming attractive to a wider range of buyers, and it isn’t simply about having aging parents move in. Today’s buyers are looking for homes that offer more flexibility, make better use of housing costs and can adapt as their family’s needs change.

An in-law apartment, accessory living area or separate suite can provide something a traditional floor plan often cannot: independent living space while keeping family close by.

Sharing the Cost of Housing

One of the biggest advantages of multigenerational living is financial. Housing costs have increased substantially, and maintaining two separate households can be expensive.

For some families, combining households can mean sharing:

• Mortgage or housing expenses
• Property taxes
• Utilities
• Internet and other services
• Maintenance and landscaping costs
• Food and household expenses

Parents may be able to contribute toward household expenses while eliminating the cost of maintaining a separate home. For the primary homeowner, that contribution can help offset the cost of owning a larger property.

Rather than paying for two kitchens, two heating systems, two internet bills and two sets of household expenses, families can share many of those costs while still maintaining separate living areas.

A Comfortable Option for Aging Parents

Many buyers searching for homes with in-law apartments are thinking ahead.

An older parent may be completely independent today but prefer to live closer to family in the future. Having a separate suite can provide privacy and independence without placing them across town—or several states away.

It can also make everyday life easier for the entire family. Grocery shopping, transportation, home maintenance and simply checking in on one another become much more manageable when everyone is under the same roof.

And unlike making a rushed housing decision later, purchasing a home with flexible living space now can give a family options as circumstances change.

Grandparents and Childcare

There can also be benefits in the other direction.

For families with young children, having grandparents living nearby can provide an enormous amount of flexibility. Grandparents may help with:

• Before- or after-school care
• School pickups and drop-offs
• Occasional babysitting
• Sick days
• School vacations
• Parents’ work schedules
• Date nights and weekend activities

Even occasional help can reduce childcare expenses while giving grandparents an opportunity to be more involved in their grandchildren’s lives.

For the right family, that can be worth just as much as the financial savings associated with sharing a home.

A Home Base for Parents Who Don’t Live Here Year-Round

An in-law suite doesn’t necessarily mean someone will occupy it 365 days a year.

Here in Massachusetts, it’s not unusual for parents or grandparents to spend part of the year elsewhere. Some may winter in Florida, travel extensively or maintain another residence.

A private suite gives them a comfortable home base when they return without requiring the homeowners to maintain a traditional guest bedroom that sits unused much of the year.

They have their own bedroom, bathroom and living space while still being part of the household when they’re in town.

Privacy Makes Multigenerational Living Different

The layout matters.

There’s a big difference between having your parents stay in a spare bedroom down the hall and having a separate living area with its own bedroom, bathroom, living room and possibly a kitchen.

A well-designed in-law suite gives everyone some independence.

Parents can watch television, prepare a meal or entertain a friend without feeling as though they’re constantly occupying someone else’s space. The primary household gets the same benefit.

You can be close without necessarily being together all the time.

It’s Not Just for Parents

Another reason homes with in-law apartments appeal to buyers is that family circumstances change.

A separate living area might initially be used by a parent but eventually serve another purpose. Depending on the property and local regulations, buyers may see value in the space for:

• Adult children returning home
• College-age children
• An au pair or nanny
• Extended family
• Long-term guests
• A private home office
• Caregivers
• Separate hobby or recreation space

That flexibility can make the additional space more useful than simply adding another bedroom to the main house.

One Property With More Ways to Use It

The real advantage of an in-law suite may be optionality.

A buyer may not need separate living quarters immediately. But a home is often owned for many years, and it’s difficult to know what a family will need five, ten or fifteen years from now.

Parents get older. Children grow up. Work situations change. Family members relocate. Someone may need temporary help or a place to stay.

A home that can adapt to those changes can be particularly valuable.

Looking for a Home With an In-Law Suite?

If homes with in-law apartments are part of your search, pay attention to more than the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Look at how the additional living space connects to the main house, how much privacy it provides, whether it has its own kitchen and laundry facilities, and how comfortably it could function as an independent living area.

FEATURED PROPERTY:

[View 100 Sutton Hill Road, North Andover – Featuring a Separate In-Law/Au Pair Suite →]

100 Sutton Hill Road offers a great example of this type of flexibility. In addition to the main home, the property includes a separate in-law or au pair suite with its own bedroom, full bathroom, kitchen, living area, and private washer and dryer.

Whether the space is used for parents, extended family, an au pair or another household need, it gives buyers something increasingly valuable: more ways for one home to work for the people living in it.