ORANGE COUNTY Fla. — As home prices continue to rise, Central Florida realtors have noticed that some buyers are turning their attention to multigenerational housing.

The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) defines multigenerational housing as a living arrangement where multiple generations of the same family live together in one home.

This usually includes homes with adult siblings, adult children over the age of 18 and/or grandparents.

Some realtors believe that this housing model could gain more popularity in the future.

According to the NAR’s 2025 Home Buyers and Sellers report, multigenerational buying hit a 17% increase last year.

Twenty-one percent of Gen X buyers (ages 45-59) purchased a multigenerational home last year.

Younger boomers (ages 60-69) comprised the second largest share at 15%, and older millennials (ages 35-44) placed third at 12%.

Some reasons contributing to the increase include saving money, spending more quality time with family, and assisting adult children forced to move home because of rising costs. 

What You Need To Know

Some Orlando realtors note growing interest in multigenerational housing

Increasing costs and evolving family dynamics among the reasons for this shift in housing

These realtors say there needs to be more affordable multi-gen housing options to meet the growing demand

According to the NAR’s 2025 Home Buyers and Sellers report, multigenerational buying hit a 17% increase last year

When managing a busy lifestyle, realtor Stephanie Mero says a little extra help goes a long way.

From working as a realtor to managing several businesses and her home life, she’s got a lot on her plate.

And it’s one of the many reasons she’s grateful to live under one roof with her husband, their 4-year-old son and her mother-in-law, Pilar Burgos.

“I suggested that we move her in with us not only so that we could help her out more easily but also so that she could help us out around the house and with our son Max,” Mero said.

This arrangement not only helps Burgos out by cutting her rent costs, but it also allows their family to co-exist together, which Mero believes is beneficial for everyone.

“It’s not just about us being a family as a supportive community, but also that we want my son to grow up and be close with his mother-in-law, with all of his grandparents,” she added.

Not to mention, the two of them make a great team together.

When Mero does the dishes, Burgos does the laundry.

Besides helping family dynamics, Mero says this way of living has become more of a financial necessity for many people.

“It’s not so much that there’s a lot more buyers who are wanting these homes, but there’s a lot more buyers that are needing these homes. We’re seeing a shift in the affordability of housing and also in the income of generations, especially those below my own,” Mero explained.

Mero said that although the demand for multigenerational housing is there, there still isn’t enough availability of these types of homes on the market yet.

“When I was seeking multigenerational home for my family, I really struggled with finding something that would really work for us, and then when we did figure it out, it was so different than what we had expected,” Mero shared.

The model she and her family sought was one that would keep the whole family integrated in the home, rather than separated by a detached unit.

However, the Central Florida developer, Lennar Homes, is among those attempting to bridge the gap, with its ‘Next Gen’ multigenerational homes.

Though Mero says Lennar does offer great options for families, she believes it could take some adjusting depending on the degree of privacy there is in the home.

“Some of these buyers want in-laws or parents to have completely separate kitchen, laundry room, everything,” she said.

EXP Realtor Sully Del Valle believes this model to be a great option for older kids who may want that extra privacy, or even for seniors.

“What they’re doing is they’re selling their home, and their adult children are selling their home and they’re combing the equity and buying a large home like this one with a designated mother-in-law suite or private space for them and that way they have their privacy but also really close to their adult children,” Del Valle said.

Del Valle says that she’s also noticed growing changes in the building model of these homes.

“We’re seeing more builders build new homes with a mother-in-law unit attached to them, or a larger suite downstairs and a large master upstairs to cater to those families because home prices have gone up,” she explained.

Del Valle is no stranger to the housing model. She herself spent a great deal of her life in a multigenerational home and encourages buyers to keep an open mind.

Although it’s unconventional, it allows for special moments that Mero says wouldn’t be possible if she and her mother-in-law lived separately.

A sentiment also shared by Pilar Burgos.

“I stay very happy, together with my family, my son, my daughter-in-law, my grandson. He is my life,” she said.

The Orlando Regional REALTOR Association’s October report shows that the median home price was $380,000.

The cost for a 4 bedroom, 3-bathroom multigenerational home in Apopka right now is $525,000, meaning the average median income for a buyer would need to range between $125 to 135,000, depending on the person’s credit score and debt.