"Comrade, there was living space for 13 families in this one house!"
Posted on 11/25/2012 10:04:18 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Being roommates with your parents after age 21 sounds like a nightmare for most, but Jessica Bruno wouldn't have it any other way. Bruno, a 40-year-old mom, wife and DIY blogger, lives with her 62-year-old parents, Connie and Fred, in their Sutton, Mass., home.
Oh, and there's Bruno's husband, Tony, and their 6-year-old son, Tony Jr.
Think that's a lot of people under one roof? There's more. Bruno's grandparents, Grace, 80, and Fred, 82, live in the house, too. That's seven people from four generations living together in one home. Actually, make that nine: Bruno's two stepdaughters, 12-year-old twins Alexia and Gabriella -- Tony's kids from another marriage -- stay with them on weekends.
It might sound like a crowded living situation, but it's not uncommon. The Bruno family is one of 4.4 million American households who have three generations or more living under one roof. There are also an estimated 51.4 million Americans that currently live in homes with more than two generations. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, multigenerational households are a growing trend, up 30 percent between 2000 and 2010, a figure that will only continue to grow, experts say.
"We've seen a 25 percent increase in demand for multigenerational housing structures over the past two years and expect to see more," said Luis Tusino, CEO of the GBI-Avis building group, which specializes in building custom modular homes.
The Bruno family has gone to great lengths to accommodate all the residents of their home. They've added 2,000 square feet to the original house over the years, expanding it to 5,000 square feet with three spacious and separate "wings" -- one for each family. They've spent about $70,000 in renovations...
(Excerpt) Read more at realestate.aol.com ...
"Comrade, there was living space for 13 families in this one house!"
There’s a family on our street where half their kids (late 20’s and early 30’s) have moved back home and have been there for years. The “kids” mooch off the parents who also were heavily subsidized by their parents. It’s a family tradition!
Periodically the “kids” bring their girlfriends and boyfriends to spend a few days in mom and dad’s home. With all that coziness it’s just a matter of time before one of the “guests” has a liason with another family member. That will be interesting. LOL.
I think it’s a great idea. In fact, I wonder if part of this is less financial and more emotional. People used to live near or with relatives and see them often.
For every middle-aged couple who rejoices at the thought of an empty nest, there is another who misses the kids. And practically every kid I’ve ever known would like more time with Grandma and Grandpa.
During the Depression, my mother’s family ended up living together even though they worked in the public sector (cops and firemen) and, therefore, missed the worst of that time. I truly think they were very close and kind to each other. We used to call it “extended families.”
Nothing at all unusual about this around the rural area where I live, especially as I was growing up. Used to see lots of multigenerational homes and properties. Cases of sons and grandchildren building homes on the same property as the grandparents, or in some cases all of them just living together.
Over the past 20 years, I’ve noticed less of it. Most of my peers, and their parents had moved away from ‘the nest’. but it seems to be making a comeback in a hurry.
I have 6 children, 14 g/children and 4 gg/children, I'd like to see all of them more often but have them live with me? No thanks.
The difference is that Zhivago’s house was overtaken by strangers - stolen from him. This is more about sharing.
You bet this will continue to happen, as more people lose their homes, the economy continues to remain in the toilet and enter another recession, and rental unit rates climb, people will have no choice but to live with close relatives. Get used to the idea, it’s already happening.
I expect them to start assigning “empty” and “underutilized” homes to Obamaphone recipients. England is already doing it.
Single mother-of-six finds £2m mansion on the net... and then gets YOU to pay £7,000 a month rent
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1250993/Single-mum-finds-mansion-net-gets-YOU-pay-7-000-month-rent.html#ixzz2DGA0ae00
My God! I just checked your link out. My mind is completely blown.
So what is old is new again?
Not surprising given the economy. And this is just the beginning.
If I were going to do this with my family, I’d prefer a “family compound” with several houses close together on a common piece of land. Gives more privacy.
This has been common for years with Armenian families in the Los Angeles area.
Oh, sure that's how it starts, then the government steps in and says, what about all the people who don't have traditional families.
Heck, I’m going to mooch off of my kids when I’m old, I’m telling them to study hard, because I want them to get a nice big house so that we can move in with them.
This is a wonderful return back to true family life. When your parents and grandparents stay with you, you take care of them and they take care of the kids.
That green one has the power supply for the entire pod....
Hope that works out for you. Just take your parent hat off when you move in; independent kids resent unsolicited “guidance” from mommy and daddy. :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.