Multigenerational Homes in Northern NJ: Why Families Want Room for Everyone

If your family has been wondering whether one home could work for parents, adult kids and maybe grandchildren, you are far from alone. We pulled together what the latest research says about multigenerational living, why so many families choose it, and what to look for in a home. Then we added 26 homes you can explore right now.

We are Darcie Hunter, Vera Lewandoski and Patrizia Maccarrone of the Skylands Real Estate Team at Prominent Properties Sotheby's International Realty, and we help buyers across Bergen and Passaic Counties and Northern New Jersey. If you would rather talk it through, call us at 201-879-6266 or email [email protected].

How many buyers want room for more than one generation?

A meaningful share. In the National Association of REALTORS® 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, which covers purchases from July 2024 through June 2025, 14% of buyers bought a multigenerational home. That is down from 17% the year before, the highest level NAR had recorded, so the pace has cooled a bit. Even so, roughly one in seven buyers is shopping for a home that has to work for more than one generation. (NAR)

The interest looks bigger when you ask people about their plans. A 2025 Veterans United survey of 900 would-be buyers found that 28% planned to purchase a home that would include family from multiple generations. Gen X buyers led at 36%, followed by millennials at 28%. (Veterans United)

Zooming out, Pew Research Center found that 59.7 million Americans, or 18% of the population, lived in a multigenerational household in 2021. In 1971 that figure was 7%. Pew also reported that the Northeast sits at 19%. (Pew) Here in New Jersey, about 4.5% of households include three generations under one roof, compared with 3.8% nationwide, which puts the state among the top ten. (New Jersey Real Estate Network)

Why families choose to live together

Practical reasons come first. According to NAR, the top reasons buyers gave for purchasing a multigenerational home were caring for aging parents (41%), saving money (29%) and adult children moving back home (27%). (NAR) The Veterans United survey added a few more: help with child care, grandparents contributing so the family can afford a desirable area, and relatives splitting household costs.

There is an emotional side, too. Pew found that about a quarter of adults in multigenerational homes say it is stressful all or most of the time, but more than twice that share call it rewarding. Sharing a home is a big decision, which is why we like to talk through layout and privacy early.

The demographic shifts behind the trend

An older buyer pool. Baby boomers made up 42% of buyers in NAR's 2026 generational report, and Gen X made up 25%. NAR's 2025 profile put the median age of all buyers at 59. Many of these buyers are thinking about aging in place, downsizing with family nearby, or helping a parent move closer. (NAR)

The sandwich generation. Gen X remained the group most likely to buy multigenerational, with 19% of Gen X buyers doing so in the latest report. Both younger and older millennials increased their multigenerational purchases, at 9% and 14%. (trade coverage of NAR)

A later start for first-time buyers. First-time buyers hit a record low of 21% of the market, and their median age reached a record 40. When it takes longer to buy a first home, families often look for ways to pool resources and space. (NAR)

Cultural traditions and a changing population. NAR data reported by Veterans United shows 26% of Asian and Pacific Islander buyers and 22% of Hispanic and Latino and Black buyers purchased multigenerational homes in 2024. Pew links the long-term rise partly to growth in these communities, along with immigrant households, and notes it is also rising among non-Hispanic White Americans. (Veterans United) (Pew)

Prices and rates: why sharing can make financial sense

NAR's August 2026 report put the U.S. median existing-home price at $429,100, up 1.6% from a year earlier and the 38th straight month of annual gains. The Northeast median was $556,900, up 4.3%. (NAR) Freddie Mac reported the 30-year fixed mortgage averaged 6.71% in early September, compared with 6.50% a year earlier. (Freddie Mac)

There is some good news. Inventory reached 1.62 million homes in August, a 4.9-month supply that NAR says is the highest in more than ten years, which can give buyers more room to negotiate. For families, combining incomes, savings or the proceeds from a parent's home sale can widen what is possible. We are not lenders or financial advisors, so we suggest talking with a lender, your accountant and, where relevant, an elder law attorney. You can also run the numbers with our mortgage calculator.

What to look for in a multigenerational home

• A bedroom and full bath on the main level for parents or grandparents who prefer to avoid stairs.
• A separate entrance or lower-level suite that gives everyone some privacy.
• Room for a second kitchen or kitchenette, keeping in mind that permits and zoning rules vary by town. Check with the municipality first.
• More than one living space so there is always a quiet spot to relax or work from home.
• Parking and storage that can handle several drivers and a lot of belongings.
• Accessibility such as a low-step entry, wider doorways and a layout that can adapt over time.

For a sense of scale, the homes below run from 3 to 6 bedrooms. 46 Decker Avenue in Butler Borough offers five bedrooms and four baths, 308 Ross Avenue in Hackensack has five bedrooms and three baths, and 22 Serafin Place in Glen Rock has six bedrooms and five baths. Open any listing for photos and full remarks, and ask us to confirm specifics like separate entrances, suites and finished lower levels.

Frequently asked questions