Mountain View News Saturday, August 15, 2026 
77THE GOOD LIFETHE GOOD LIFE Mountain View News Saturday, August 15, 2026 
77THE GOOD LIFETHE GOOD LIFE 
THE HIDDEN COST 
OF WAITING: WHY 
FAMILIES SHOULD TALK 
ABOUT SENIOR CARE 
BEFORE A CRISIS 

For many families, the conversation 
about assisted living or senior care 
begins only after a crisis occurs. A fall,
hospitalization, medication problem, or 
sudden change in a loved one’s ability to 
live safely at home can force families to 
make important decisions quickly. 

Unfortunately, a crisis is often the worst time to 
begin searching for care. 

Planning ahead gives families something 
extremely valuable: choices. 

When families begin exploring senior living 
communities before an emergency, they have 
time to compare locations, services, costs, 
amenities, and levels of care. Most importantly, 
they can involve their loved one in the decision-
making process. 

Starting the conversation does not mean 
someone has to move immediately. In fact, 
simply visiting a few communities can helpfamilies understand what is available and what 
different options cost. It can also provide a 
better understanding of what type of care may 
eventually be needed. 

Another important consideration is the senior’s 


safety. Changes in mobility, memory, medication 
management, nutrition, or the ability to handle 
household responsibilities can sometimes 
develop gradually. Families may notice these 
changes before their loved one does. 

Planning early also reduces stress for adult 
children. Instead of searching for a communityduring an emergency, they can make thoughtful 
decisions based on their loved one’s needs, 
preferences, and budget. 

Senior living is not about giving upindependence. The right community can 
actually provide an environment where seniors 
remain active, social, and engaged while 
receiving the support they need. 

The best time to learn about your options is 
usually before you urgently need them. 

A conversation today can make tomorrow’s 
decisions easier, calmer, and more informed. 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …AUGUST Birthdays*

Nancy Beckham, Karlene Englert, Juanita Fernandez, Jeanette Francis, 
Joseph Kiss, Jacquie Pergola, Pat Miranda, Margaret Aroyan, Phyllis 
Burg, Beverly Clifton, Rosemary Morabito, Susan Poulsen, Joy Barry, 
Marcia Bent, Joan Spears, Ruth Torres, Jane Zamanzadeh. Helen 
Stapenhorst, Chandy Shair, Heidi Hartman, Erma Gutierrez, Margaret Switzer

* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of 
birth not required 


MULTIGENERATIONAL 
HOMES: HOW FAMILIES 
ARE HACKING THE 
HOUSING MARKET 

By Courtney Klosterman, home insights expert 

Buying a home with extended or chosen family 
can be rewarding, but it also comes with its own 
unique set of challenges. Today, nearly 1 in 6homebuyers are in multigenerational households. 

Our deep dive into multigenerational livinglooks at who’s buying a house with family, why 
they’re choosing to live together, and how their 
insurance needs might change with more family 
members under one roof. 

Key takeaways 

• 
67% of people in multigenerationalhouseholds cite financial reasons for their 
living situation. Pooling resources can makehomeownership more realistic–it takes at least 
two working adults each earning $74,480 per year 
to afford the average U.S. home worth $357,445.
• 
Multigenerational living can help 
aging family members stay on top of home 
maintenance and protection, like keepinginsurance documents up-to-date. According to 
the 2026 Hippo Housepower Report, 42% of babyboomers have either never attempted DIY homemaintenance or often encountered problems or 
regrets when they did. 
• 
A mortgage is a major expense, but it’s 
one you can plan for. What catches homeownersoff guard tends to be other costs: 76% of 
homeowners say other home expenses, like utilitybills or surprise repairs affect their financialstability. Having family members to share thatload can make a difference. 
What is a multigenerational home? 

A multigenerational household typically consists 
of an adult, aged 18 or older, living with other 
adult relatives who are not their spouse or 
partner—parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or 
other extended family members. 

These households often need homes 
with additional square footage: more 
bedrooms, flexible spaces, or separate quarters 
altogether. Properties with accessory dwellingunits (ADUs), finished basements, or grannyflats, tend to be popular. 

While multigenerational living was common 
in the U.S. before the 20th century, today’s high 
cost of living has driven its resurgence. Financial 
reasons are cited by 67% of those in 
multigenerational households, and it’s easy to see 
why. According to the 2026 Housepower Report, 
utility bill fluctuations (37%), unexpected home 
repairs or maintenance issues (33%), and risinghome insurance premiums (27%) all impact 
financial stability. When those costs are shared, 
the whole household feels more stable. 

How a generational home impacts your insurance 

Multigenerational living doesn’t just shape the 
kind of home you buy—it also affects your home 
insurance. If you’re in a multigenerational 
household, there are a few coverage areas worth 
reviewing with your licensed insurance producer: 

• 
Adding additional personal property 
coverage. Many standard home insurance 
policies cover basic personal belongings, butthey don’t cover everything. Scheduled personal 
property coverage can help protect valuablefamily heirlooms, expensive technology, or otherhigh-value items brought into the home.
• 
Adding family members to your 
policy. If people living in your home aren’t listedon your current policy, an additional insured 
endorsement extends your liability coverage toanyone who lives in or has a financial interest inyour home.
• 
Updating your insurance terms. If 
you remodel or add space to accommodate family 
members, consider reviewing your current policy 
to see if it’s time for an update. 
Benefits of multigenerational living 

Multigenerational living isn’t for everyone. But,
for many families, it offers meaningful advantages 
across these areas. 

• 
Caregiving help - Americans are aging.
The share of people 65 and older grew from 12% 
in 2004 to 18% in 2024, now outpacing the shareof children. As elder care becomes a growingreality for more families, multigenerationalhouseholds offer a built-in solution: older adults 
can receive support from family members,
reducing the need for hired care or assisted 
living, while grandparents and other relatives cancontribute to childcare. 

People with disabilities or chronic illnesses may 
also benefit from living with family members who 
can provide daily support. These arrangements 
are especially common among lower-income 
households, defined by the Pew Research Center 
as households making less than $42,000 annually. 
More than half (51%) of people in this group say 
they’re either caring for an adult family member 
or receiving care themselves. Another 32% say 
they’re providing or receiving help with childcare. 

• 
Cultural reasons - For many families,
living together across generations isn’t a financialdecision, it’s a reflection of values. Asian,
Hispanic, and Black families, in particular, aredriving the rise of multigenerational living in 
the U.S. More than 1 in 4 (28%) adults in thesehouseholds say the main reason is that it’s thearrangement they’ve always had. 
This often overlaps with caregiving, as some 
cultures prioritize keeping relatives together at 
home rather than seeking outside support. Living 
together is seen as both a family responsibility 
and source of connection. 

• 
Affordability -Multigenerationalhouseholds report similar incomes to otherhomebuyers. In 2024, the median householdincome was $109,300 for multigenerational buyerscompared to $109,000 for all homebuyers. Whatthis suggests is that individuals who might facefinancial constraints on their own are poolingresources to achieve what could otherwise be out 
of reach. 
This is most visible in states with high rates of 
multigenerational living, like California, Arizona,
New Mexico, and Texas. Many of these states have 
notoriously high home prices (like California) or 
lower-than-average wages (like New Mexico and 
Texas). 

In these markets, having multiple family 
members contribute to housing costs can make 
the difference between renting and owning. 

Typically, a couple can afford a home if both 
people earn at least an average salary. According 
to a Hippo Insurance Services analysis of Zillow 
and Bureau of Economic Analysis data, it takes 
at least two people, each earning the U.S. per 
capita salary of around $74,480 per year, to afford 
the sale price of the average home. (A home is 
considered affordable if its final sale price is 
around three times someone’s yearly salary.) 

But if someone makes less than $74,000 per 
year, or they’re a single-earner household, they 
may need more family members at home to 
contribute to the mortgage. In some states where 
multigenerational homes are common, like 
California and Arizona, it takes at least three 
people. 

Overall, Americans in multigenerational 
households are less likely to live in poverty. Most 
say it’s been a positive experience, with at least 
half describing it as convenient and rewarding. 

Challenges of multigenerational living 

The benefits are real, but so are the tradeoffs. More 
than 1 in 4 (26%) people in multigenerational 
households have privacy concerns, and 20% 
point to differences of opinions and beliefs as a 
key frustration. 

Space can be another limiting factor: 28% say 
there isn’t enough space to live comfortably. That 
rises to 38% in lower-income households. 

Multigenerational living doesn’t always translate 
to lower housing costs. If you’re the primary 
earner supporting aging relatives or adult 
children who can’t yet contribute financially, you 
may still shoulder the responsibility. More than 
1 in 3 (35%) people ages 40 and older who live 
with a parent pay their entire rent or mortgage 
themselves. 

It’s also worth factoring in the practical reality of 
more people in the home. Additional wear and 
tear can lead to higher repair and insurance costs 
over time. 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com