One for all: What makes the perfect multigenerational home in Canberra?
A perfect storm of factors including the pandemic, the cost of aged care and increasing home prices have put a spotlight on the appeal of the “multi-gen” (multigenerational) home.
This is a residence that includes a purpose-built space that can accommodate elderly relatives or perhaps a private space for a related young couple saving to buy their first home.
Christine Bassingthwaighte of Blackshaw Manuka says property that integrates an annexe that could comfortably accommodate extended family.
“Spaces like this are increasingly sought by home owners who want to have, say, elderly parents living with them rather than going into a retirement home or similar,” she says.
“Ideally, these spaces present similarly to the balance of the home and offer the occupants the same standard of living.”
Bassingthwaighte says highly regarded features include a private entrance and a floor plan similar to an apartment or studio with good natural light and ventilation.
Steve Lowe of Agent Team Canberra says these homes provide big upsides to potential investors as well as home owners.
“They can be an opportunity for two incomes for an investor – or a secondary income to help a home owner pay the mortgage,” he says.
Lowe says other home owners have seen another opportunity to set themselves up in their later years.
“Some build a stylish, secondary granny flat-type residence on their block and move into it and enjoy rental income from the main residence,” he says.
- Family ties Buyers seeking properties that offer intergenerational living potential are often driven by the need to care for and keep close elderly relatives or to offer a private space to younger ones.
- Purpose-built The most successful spaces are ones purpose-built to offer comfortable lifestyles. Relatives deserve the best in contemporary living, not to find themselves as an afterthought in a dodgy garage or basement conversion.
- Box ticks Spaces should offer everything that might be found in a studio or small apartment: a private entry, good light and ventilation, a kitchen-dining-living space and a bedroom or sleeping zone.
Our top pick of homes for sale for multigenerational families:
Red Hill
Families needing a home to share with extended family will see great potential in this big Red Hill residence with a studio annexe.
This is a classic home, set on a leafy blue-riband street, that’s packed with character features.
Highlights include coffered ceilings, original divided-light windows, timber floors and french doors.
Then there’s the unexpected, but totally welcoming red front door that leads into a generously wide foyer.
Hardwood timber floors feature throughout the living areas that begin with a formal dining room and lounge. Both rooms maintain their historical pedigree with wide cornices, skirting boards and ceiling roses. The lounge is warmed by a handsome fireplace while there’s a dedicated study off the formal dining room.
Of course, the hub is a huge open-plan kitchen, living and dining area. There’s a wide galley-style kitchen, bathed in extra light from well-placed clerestory windows. It’s ready for action with Corian benchtops and stainless steel appliances including a dishwasher, double oven and induction stovetop.
The main bedroom enjoys a walk-through and a high-spec full bathroom with a walk-in shower and bathtub. Three further bedrooms are serviced by two bathrooms.
The studio apartment offers plenty of space to accommodate sleeping and living needs including a kitchenette and a bathroom.
Outside, there’s a pergola-covered patio and poolside deck amid beautifully landscaped gardens.
There’s a tandem garage on one side and a single carport on the other.
Price guide: $2.5 million +
Auction: 10am, December 11
Agent: Blackshaw Manuka, Christine Bassingthwaighte 0428 139 969
Or try these:
Griffith
Price guide: Circa $3 million
Auction: 6:15pm, December 9
Agent: Belle Property Canberra, Louise Harget 0412 997 894
Holt
Price guide: $1.1 million +
Private sale
Agent: Agent Team Canberra, Steve Lowe 0414 720 532
Bonner
Price guide: $1.4 million +
Auction: 3:30pm, December 18
Agent: La Casa Property Group, Jun Xu 0488 885 883
Higgins
Auction: 6pm, December 16
Agent: Luton Properties Gungahlin, Rachelle French 0448 389 344
Narrabundah
Auction: 3:15pm, December 11
Agent: Hayman Partners, Shane Killalea 0412 152 607
Duffy
Auction: 11am, December 11
Agent: Luton Properties Manuka, Sophie Luton 0410 750 413
Weston
Auction: 2:30pm, December 11
Agent: Hayman Partners, Brett Hayman 0411 414 624
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