By Mike Lentz | The Mike Lentz Team – Keller Williams Realty
More South Jersey families are buying multi-generational homes to split costs and solve childcare challenges together. Nearly 1 in 7 homebuyers in 2025 purchased a multi-generational home, with childcare now a leading reason for this choice.
When Buying a Home Feels Out of Reach, Some South Jersey Families Do This Instead
For many families, buying a home doesn’t add up right now. You look at the cost of buying. Then you look at childcare expenses. It feels like you have to choose one or the other.
But some families, from Maple Shade to Millville, are finding a solution. They’re teaming up to purchase multi-generational homes together.
Why This Is Becoming More Common
Affordability has been tough in recent years. For families with young kids, there’s another layer. Childcare costs make everything harder.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, childcare should be 7% of monthly income. But married couples actually spend closer to 10% and New Jersey averages 11.2% (see map below):
When you combine that with homebuying costs, finances feel stretched. That’s why more families are rethinking their approach.
The Solution More People Are Turning To: Multi-Generational Living
One option gaining ground is multi-generational living. Parents, grandparents, or other relatives buy a house together. They live under the same roof. It’s not just about convenience anymore. It’s a strategy that works.
The data shows the trend clearly. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), almost 1 in 7 homebuyers (14%) bought a multi-generational home in 2025 (see graph below):
For the first time, childcare shows up as a key reason. As NAR explains:
“This year’s report features two new primary reasons for purchasing a multi-generational home: grandchildren living in the home (12%) and to help reduce the cost of childcare (6%).”
Why It Works
Buying a multi-generational home solves two big challenges at once.
- First, it shares the financial responsibility. You pool multiple incomes together. You may afford a home you couldn’t buy alone.
- Second, it can also solve the childcare puzzle. Grandparents or relatives live in the home. They help with daily care. This can reduce or eliminate daycare costs.
For many people, that combination makes their move possible.
If childcare and housing costs together feel overwhelming, explore creative options. Buying a home with loved ones might be the answer. Understanding how to approach home pricing and budgeting becomes easier when multiple incomes are involved.
Bottom Line
Want more information on multi-generational homes around Camden County or nearby areas? Let’s have a quick conversation about what’s available locally.
Sometimes the path to homeownership isn’t doing it alone. It’s doing it together.
