Dive Brief:
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One of the best-selling extras a homebuilder can offer to buyers of new, single-family homes: an in-law apartment.
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In a 2012 homeowner survey by Pulte, 32% of respondents with at least one living parent said they anticipate their elders will eventually move in with them. In response, Pulte started building what it calls “casitas” in its Southwest markets: small, stand-alone apartment units for those parents, right on the homeowners’ property. In the Southwest, it builds MultiGen houses that incorporate an in-law suite into the main home. And Lennar incorporates NextGen apartments with separate entrances into the main home.
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Big builder Lennar reports that sales of homes with NextGen apartments grew 27% in a year.
Dive Insight:
A builder can charge up to 60% more for a home that includes an in-law unit—known in the industry as an ADU, or accessory-dwelling unit, estimates Zillow. And the accommodation can be simpler than the big builders might make it seem. For example, incorporating an extra-large bedroom instead of two smaller ones into a floor plan creates plenty of room for an in-law suite with a private bathroom, sitting room and sleeping area. Add French doors that lead to a small, private deck, and a live-in, older parent will have enough privacy and space to call home.