It comes up more than it used to.

A woman in her late 40s or early 50s, kids mostly grown, parents getting older. And a question that feels too big to say out loud at first: should we all just... live together?

Multigenerational living has been common in many cultures for a long time. In the Fraser Valley it's becoming more common across the board, and not just for financial reasons. Women in midlife are often at the exact intersection where it starts to make real sense… old enough that aging parents are a consideration, young enough that they're still active and want a home that works for their own life too.

I'm not here to tell you whether it's right for your family. That depends on relationships, finances, personalities, and a dozen other things only you can assess. But I can tell you what I see working and what I see people wish they'd thought about sooner.

The layout matters more than the square footage. A multigenerational home that works is one where each generation has genuine separation… their own entrance, their own living space, their own bathroom at minimum. A large home where everyone shares every room is not multigenerational living. It's just crowded. The homes I look for with clients considering this have either a legal suite, a coach house, or a layout that can be modified to create real separation.

Plan for the relationship, not just the logistics. The families I've seen navigate this well are the ones who had an honest conversation upfront about how it would actually work day to day. Who has access to what. What the financial arrangement looks like. What happens if the arrangement stops working. These conversations are uncomfortable before the move and much more uncomfortable after.

The financial case can be genuinely strong. In Cloverdale and Langley, a home with a legal suite or carriage house can allow two households to share mortgage costs in a way that gives everyone more stability and more options. For women supporting aging parents while also managing their own finances in midlife, that math can be meaningful.

It's worth exploring properly before ruling it out or committing to it. That's true of most big decisions… but especially this one.

If you're thinking through whether this could work for your family, the Balance Method Guide walks through how I approach big life and housing decisions with my clients before any commitment is made.