--- title: A Quiet Shift I'm Starting to See in the Housing Market description: More families are exploring multigenerational homes in Maine and New Hampshire. Here's how ADUs, in-law suites, and shared ownership could create new possibilities. image: https://priscillaweston.com/hubfs/main%20house.jpeg --- [![2025logo](https://priscillaweston.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2025logo.png?width=85&height=85&name=2025logo.png "2025logo")](https://www.priscillaweston.com) [![](https://priscillaweston.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2025logo.png?width=250&height=250&name=2025logo.png)](http://Priscilla%20Band%20Weston,%20Realtor) [![](https://priscillaweston.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2025logo.png?width=250&height=250&name=2025logo.png)](http://Priscilla%20Band%20Weston,%20Realtor) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. - [Home](https://priscillaweston.com) - [Listings](https://priscillaweston.com/listing) - [About](https://priscillaweston.com/about-us) - [Contact](https://priscillaweston.com/contact1) - [Blog](https://priscillaweston.com/blog) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. # A Quiet Shift I'm Starting to See in the Housing Market by [Priscilla Weston](https://priscillaweston.com/blog/author/priscilla-weston) | Apr 13, 2026 Lately, I've had a couple of conversations that felt… notable. Not because they involved particularly unusual properties or complicated real estate transactions. But because, in both cases, **two generations of the same family were looking for a home together.** Parents thinking ahead to their next chapter. Adult children navigating the realities of today's housing market, often with young children of their own. And everyone asking some version of the same question: *What would it look like if we bought something together?* Not as a fallback. Not because anyone had run out of options. But as a deliberate choice. And I think that's interesting. ## Maybe We Don't All Need Separate Houses. For a long time, the American ideal has been pretty straightforward. Grow up. Move out. Buy your own house. Raise your family. Eventually, the kids leave and do the same thing. Every household has its own mortgage, its own lawn mower, its own utility bills, and its own collection of things nobody can find when they actually need them. But lately, I've been hearing families question whether that arrangement makes the most sense for them. What if grandparents could see their grandchildren more often without coordinating calendars and driving across town? What if adult children could share some of the financial burden of homeownership without giving up their independence? What if aging parents could plan ahead for their changing needs while still maintaining their own space? And what if everyone involved genuinely liked the idea? That's a different conversation than the one we've traditionally had about multigenerational housing. ## What These Families Are Actually Looking For The families I've spoken with aren't necessarily imagining everyone sharing one kitchen and fighting over the thermostat. They're looking for ways to be close while still having separate lives. That might mean a multifamily property with independent living spaces. Or a single-family home with an existing in-law apartment. Or a property with enough land and the appropriate approvals to add an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in the future. The exact structure varies. But the priorities have been remarkably consistent: - More time together, particularly with grandchildren - Privacy and independence for each household - A practical way to share housing expenses - Flexibility as family needs change over time And honestly, I can see the appeal. There's something pretty wonderful about having grandparents nearby for an ordinary Tuesday afternoon, not just holidays and birthday parties. Especially when everyone still gets to close their own front door at the end of the day. ## This Isn't Just Something I'm Hearing Locally. Multigenerational living has been growing in the United States for decades. Research from Pew Research Center has found that nearly one in five Americans lives in a multigenerational household, depending on the definition and reporting period. And the National Association of Realtors has documented multigenerational buying as an important part of the housing market. The reasons vary. Housing affordability is an obvious one. So are childcare costs, elder care, and the financial realities of supporting multiple households. But I think there's another piece worth paying attention to. Some families are reconsidering what they actually want their lives to look like. Maybe living near the people you love is worth more than having a little extra distance between everybody. Maybe sharing resources creates opportunities that wouldn't otherwise exist. And maybe the idea of complete household independence, with everyone managing every expense and responsibility separately, isn't always the most efficient arrangement. ## The Financial Possibilities Are Interesting, Too. This is where my real estate brain starts getting curious. Because when two households combine some of their resources, the possibilities can change considerably. Imagine parents who have built substantial equity in their home over several decades. Their adult children may have good incomes but struggle with the upfront costs of purchasing a property that accommodates their growing family. Individually, each household might face limitations. Together, they may have more options. That could mean purchasing a property with two separate living spaces, reducing duplicate housing expenses, or creating a long-term arrangement that allows family members to support one another financially. It can also open up conversations about transferring wealth between generations while everyone is still around to benefit from it. But this is also where planning becomes essential. ## Because Buying Together Is Still Buying Together. I love the possibilities of multigenerational ownership. I also think it's important to acknowledge that sharing a property with family creates financial and legal relationships that deserve serious consideration. Who owns what percentage of the property? Who contributes to the down payment? How are mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and major repairs divided? What happens if someone wants to move? What if one family member dies, gets divorced, or experiences a significant financial change? And what happens if the arrangement simply stops working for one of the households? These aren't reasons to avoid the idea. They're reasons to have good conversations before anyone signs anything. Depending on the circumstances, families might explore joint ownership, different ownership percentages, trusts, or other legal arrangements. But the right structure depends on the family's goals, financing options, tax implications, and long-term plans. This is absolutely a situation where I'd want a knowledgeable real estate attorney, lender, and potentially an estate-planning or tax professional involved early. Because a little planning now can prevent some very expensive misunderstandings later. ## What This Could Look Like in Southern Maine and Coastal New Hampshire One of the things I enjoy about looking at properties around here is that we have such a wide variety of housing. Older homes with additions that might lend themselves to separate living quarters. Two-family properties that offer more independence than people typically imagine when they hear the word *multifamily*. Homes with existing in-law apartments. And properties where an accessory dwelling unit might be possible. Maine and New Hampshire have both taken steps to expand opportunities for accessory dwelling units, although the rules, permitting requirements, and practical limitations still need to be evaluated for each property. Not every house with a finished basement can legally become a separate apartment. And not every large lot is suitable for another dwelling. Zoning, septic capacity, access, utilities, building codes, and financing all matter. But sometimes a property has possibilities that aren't immediately obvious from the listing photographs. And those are some of my favorite properties to investigate. ## It's Really About Having More Options. I don't think multigenerational living is the answer for every family. Some people are happiest with a little more distance between themselves and their relatives. And frankly, there's wisdom in knowing that about yourself. But for families who genuinely enjoy spending time together, who communicate well, and who want to approach housing as a shared long-term resource, I think it's an option worth exploring. Especially when you consider how much of our lives revolve around maintaining separate households. Separate mortgages. Separate utilities. Separate maintenance expenses. Separate childcare arrangements. Sometimes independence is worth every penny. And sometimes a little more interdependence might actually make life easier. ## A Different Way to Think About Home What interests me most about these conversations isn't necessarily the financial side. It's that families are thinking more intentionally about how they want to live. They're asking what kind of arrangement would give them more time together, more flexibility, and perhaps a little less financial pressure. They're thinking about aging, raising children, and building something that can serve more than one generation. And they're recognizing that homeownership doesn't always have to follow the same familiar script. If your family has ever casually floated the idea of buying something together, it might be worth revisiting that conversation with a little more intention. You don't have to have the whole plan figured out. Sometimes the first step is simply understanding what kinds of properties and ownership arrangements might be possible. **Because the goal isn't just to buy a house. It's to create a way of living that works for the people who call it home.** And I think that's a pretty good place to start. Priscilla ✨ *Priscilla Weston | Realtor with Archer & Associates* *Serving York County, Maine, and the New Hampshire Seacoast.* - - - - Recent posts [I Have Trust Issues With Freshly Painted Basements (And Other Things I Notice at House Showings)](https://priscillaweston.com/blog/i-have-trust-issues-with-freshly-painted-basements-and-other-things-i-notice-at-house-showings) [Apparently, This Is the Best Week of the Year to Buy a House](https://priscillaweston.com/blog/apparently-this-is-the-best-week-of-the-year-to-buy-a-house) [A Small House for Someone With Big Plans](https://priscillaweston.com/blog/a-small-house-for-someone-with-big-plans) [I Wish I Could Clone My Last Seller](https://priscillaweston.com/blog/i-wish-i-could-clone-my-last-seller) [The Best Homes Leave Room for Possibility](https://priscillaweston.com/blog/the-best-homes-leave-room-for-possibility) Keller Williams Coastal and Lakes & Mountains Realty 750 Lafayette Rd. #201 Portsmouth, NH 03801 [O: 603.610.8500](tel:317-234-5678) [C: 207.218.0240](tel:317-234-5678) FOLLOW ALONG [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/priscillabandweston) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/priscillabandweston/) - HOME - [LISTINGS](https://priscillaweston.com/listings) - [ABOUT](https://priscillaweston.com/about) - [CONTACT](https://priscillaweston.com/contact) - SEARCH © 2024 Priscilla Band Weston, REALTOR |  Privacy Policy ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Priscilla Weston", "url" : "https://priscillaweston.com/blog/author/priscilla-weston" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-15T18:25:43.083Z", "datePublished" : "2026-04-13T14:45:00.000Z", "headline" : "A Quiet Shift I'm Starting to See in the Housing Market", "image" : [ "https://priscillaweston.com/hubfs/main%20house.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://priscillaweston.com/blog/a-quiet-shift-im-starting-to-see-in-the-housing-market", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://priscillaweston.com/hubfs/2025logo.png" }, "name" : "Priscilla Band Weston, Realtor" } } ```