Young couples, parents live together in next gen homes

Lennar Homes builds multi-generation family homes in Miami-Dade County

MIAMI ā€“ More young adults are living with their parents than at any time in the last 50 years, and a company is offering homes catering to multi-generation families in Miami-Dade County.

Louis Moreno and fiancĆ© Danilza Velez are buying a new home for themselves with plenty of room for her mother.Ā 

"The ā€˜oh wow' factor was that in-law suite," said Moreno.Ā 

"It's a separate kitchenette that's going to work perfect for her," said Velez.Ā "She's sometimes an early bird and likes her morning coffee and won't interrupt or wake up anybody or have that worry."

The couple bought a Lennar Next Gen home in Homestead.Ā The home has more than 2,200 square feet and three bedrooms for Louis and Danilza, and almost 800 square feet and two bedrooms for her mom.Ā 

The house also has an outside entry where in-laws, young married couples, or guests can come and go as they please. The suites are one or two-bedroom living spaces with kitchenette, washer/dryer, and an inside door connecting the two homes.Ā 

"As we developed the process, we kind of thought well, when people live together do they always want to be so close together?Ā This is done, we think, very tastefully where people can live together yet separate," said Carlos Gonzalez of Lennar Homes.

The first Next Gen homes went up in Arizona two years ago.Ā They were an instant hit.Ā 

"People are fascinated by it, they love the idea. In every one of our communities, we've had an enormous interest and once we've gotten close to people can see it, we've really had exponential sales," said Gonzalez.

Louis and Danilza were sold when they saw a floor plan.Ā 

"It just came at the right time and hopefully people realize how great this concept is, and I am pretty sure a lot of people are going to be thinking the same way we are," said Moreno.

Lennar is building Next Gen homes in three Miami-Dade developments and has plans for more in Broward soon.Ā Next Gen homes range from $243,000 to $284,000.Ā