Multigenerational Living House Plans | Choosing the Right Family Home

By Rich Harvey, CEO & Founder, propertybuyer.com.au

Over recent years our Propertybuyer team has been monitoring a rising trend toward buyers seeking multigenerational housing. Across the country we’ve seen adult kids still living at home and elderly parents join the family unit under the one roof.

This shift has increased even more in recent times, which is not surprising. The reasons are multiple with increased cost-of-living, housing affordability challenges,  and the growing interest in multigenerational living house plans all playing their part. Then there’s Australia’s ageing population increasingly needing family assistance.

According to Cotality (formerly CoreLogic), it’s now taking a record 10.6 years to save for a 20 per cent mortgage deposit – and that’s assuming a household can save 15 per cent of their income, which is a major challenge right now. Cotality’s Tim Lawless also said that these days, tenants require about one third of their income to pay rent.

House prices across the country remain high, although the swift surge in property values over the past few years is slowing – even in wildly out-performing Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Cotality’s May 2025 Home Value Index (HVI) found annual dwelling values rose “only” 7.1 per cent in Brisbane and 8.6 per cent in Adelaide and Perth.

Obviously, these are still major increases but I want to put them in context. In Cotality’s May 2024 HVI, Brisbane and Adelaide experienced 16.3 per cent and 14.4 per cent annual value jumps with a whopping 22 per cent leap experienced in Perth.

Rent growth also attenuated in these cities between May 2024 and May 2025, from 8.2 per cent, 9.5 per cent and 13.5 per cent respectively to 3.2 per cent, 4.3 per cent and 4.6 per cent.

In more good news, inflation slowed from 3.6 per cent to 2.4 per cent between the March 2024 and March 2025 quarters. And, the Reserve Bank has given us two 25 basis points rate cuts this year, with the Big Four Banks expecting at least one more drop in 2025.

Regardless, the key reasons for the increased appeal of multi-generation housing remain the same. It might be difficult having the whole family living together in the same abode, but there are benefits to the arrangement.

Multi-generation benefits: young people

Thirty years ago, high school leavers were able to leave home and find a new property to live in with relative ease. Now, it’s a different story for young people with even those in their late 20s staying longer to save for a home loan deposit. Grim statistics from Digital Data Analytics in February 2024 revealed Sydney and Melbourne’s first home buyers are now in their mid-30s – a decade older than first home buyers in 2004.

Yet another plan for young ones staying at home to save deposit cash is the increasingly popular Bank of Mum and Dad. Mozo’s Bank of Mum and Dad report in April this year showed 23 per cent of parents let their kids live at home rent-free while they saved. Seventy-five per cent of parents are also offering loan deposit money to their kids, with no expectation of getting it back. As such, Mozo suggests that the Bank of Mum and Dad is now actually the Gift of Mum and Dad.

Multi-generational benefits: parents and seniors

Meanwhile, for seniors living much longer, but still needing some health and other help from family and friends, a property with kin can literally be a lifesaver.

Children can in this way support their retiree parents while these elders can in turn help their children and grandchildren with school and activity pick-ups and drop-offs, childcare, meals, cleaning, grocery shopping and other family needs.

What to look for in a multi-generational home

To accommodate up to three generations, ample indoor and outdoor space is crucial. Several multi-use rooms with the potential for movies, beds, offices, and more are a must as well. Multigenerational house plans often feature a separate self-contained granny flat or similar, preferably with a separate entrance, which can work wonders for seniors and teens’ privacy and independence needs. This area, along with plenty of outdoor space, can also increase a property’s value; but seniors should opt for a single or ground floor dwelling. 

If your current property doesn’t have all or some of these points, you can think about an extension or renovation. The red tape and bureaucracy surrounding the building of a granny flat has also eased in New South Wales and Victoria, for example. Of course, you must also factor in the high cost of construction when considering this sort of work.

Finally, don’t forget you’ll need nearby amenities, especially schools, but also medical facilities, shops and public transport plus proximity to major roads.

Where to find a multi-generational home

All of these issues pose an important question: are there specific locations where you’re more likely to find a multi-generational home?

The short answer is yes.

You will be seeking a relatively larger home and allotment to help contain your extended family. These are often found a capital city’s outer-ring suburbs. These are usually more price accessible than inner city suburbs. There’s no denying bang for buck is bigger the further you move from the CBD. For example, there are suburbs in western Sydney that fit the bill for many buyers.

New developments including greenfield areas can also be ideal for multi-generational properties or even better, these properties can combine all the above points with a traditional cultural community which has known and loved multi-generational living for years. Sunnybank and Robertson on Brisbane’s south side offer this combination very well and have yet another attraction – easy access to the Gold Coast.

Don’t let the house hunt daunt you

Don’t forget too that a smart local buyers agency Australia can help find the perfect multi-generational home for you and your extended family. These agents won’t be intimidated by your family’s long lists of needs and wants. Instead, they’ll call on their local knowledge, and experience in helping buyers of all household makeup with the search. Our experts are also aware of the increasing trend of multi-generational households and will have plenty of options for you to choose from.

If you’re looking for a space where everyone can live together, speak to our area-expert buyers’ agents. They stand ready to help unearth a multi-generational home that brings harmony to the whole family.

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