Togetherness
A homebuilder is launching places to live for multiple generations.
Ahomebuilding company is launching a new kind of housing built so that multiple generations can live under one roof. The idea by Lennar and Village Builders is to provide ways for families living with elderly parents or slow-to-move-out children. These designs are available in dozens of Houston communities, from The Woodlands to Clear Lake and from Baytown to Katy. This “NextGen” is just taking off. Prices range from the $200,000s to $1 million and up.
Don Luke, division president for Lennar Houston, told the Chronicle why he thinks this trend will gain traction in the region.
Q: What is a multigenerational home? A:
Think about it as part of the home. It has a private suite with its own front door, living room, kitchen, garage and bedroom and bathroom. The rest of the main home is just a normal home. Everyone has a space. We’re here and can come and go as we need to. We are not just living in a secondary bedroom under the same room.
Q: What types of buyers are interested in this product? A:
Houston is a great place and has different cultural aspects, but not just one kind of buyer is interested in this product. If you have children that for whatever reason don’t want to buy a home. This allows them to live in the space until they get on their feet. It’s for parents who don’t want to live in assisted-living homes and can have their own space in their child’s home.
Q: Why now, in Houston? A:
In Houston, as far as affordablity for homebuilding, we’ve always been blessed. We started to create our own Texas version of NextGen brand name. It’s a home within a home. We’ve created a dozen homes that we can build in different communities throughout Houston. The response has been amazing. Sales are strong, which is very encouraging. When parents have their own space and living room and their own laundry room, it doesn’t diminish what they once had. You have all your own places and spaces and can walk in and out of the main living area. It’s so much more important for them that they have an identity.
Q: How is the market? Have you seen an effect from oil prices?
A: We feel good in the marketplace right now. We aren’t trying to build so many homes that we have to discount them or do that kind of thing.