WHAT TO EXPECT OF IN-LAW SUITES
In-law suites could be an in-demand feature as more homeowners and aspiring
buyers seek to reduce housing costs by embracing multigenerational living arrangements.
ing in-law suites, buyers can request existing
tax information so they are not surprised by the
number like they might be if they add on to an
existing home. Despite that, it might still be in
prospective buyers’ best interest to add on to an
existing property and pay the additional taxes
than it would to buy a new home.
• Try to include features residents have
come to expect when living independently.
An in-law suite should include its own private
bathroom, a washroom for a washer and dryer
and a kitchen or kitchenette. If everyone in a
multigenerational household is forced to use
the same bathrooms, washers and dryers, and
kitchens, then the home might begin to feel
cramped rather quickly.
• Try to secure off-street parking. Though
it might not affect the ambiance within the inlaw
suite itself, an off-street parking spot is a
convenience residents will appreciate. Such
a space will allow residents to come and go
as they please and save them the headache of
moving their vehicles for snow plows and street
cleaners.❧
The modern real estate market has led
millions of aspiring home buyers to
reconsider their approach to buying a
home. Low inventory has led to high home prices.
When paired with mortgage interest rates
that have remained north of 6 percent for years,
the high sticker price of homes has made many
buyers wonder if homeownership is simply beyond
their means.
It’s impossible to know if or when home prices
will come down, but some buyers have chosen
to seek homes that can accommodate multiple
generations. According to the Pew Research
Center, the share of multigenerational homes
rose from 7 percent in 1971 to 18 percent in
2021. A multitude of factors have contributed
to that increase, and housing affordability is one
such variable. In 2024, researchers studying
multigenerational households at the Wharton
School at the University of Pennsylvania noted
that housing affordability declined considerably
in recent years but also had been on the decline
for decades. As homes become
less affordable, the number of
multigenerational households
tends to increase, and that’s
something modern buyers can
keep in mind as they look for
a home.
In-law suites that accommodate
multigenerational households
can provide a pathway to
homeownership for buyers who
otherwise may be priced out of
the market. Buyers considering
homes with an in-law suite or
those who want to add one to
their existing homes can familiarize
themselves with these
convenient and potentially cost-saving features.
• Note the signifi cance of a separate entrance.
Whether you’re looking for a home
with an in-law suite or hoping to add one on
to your existing home, a separate
entrance for suite residents
can allow them to come and go
as they please. That sense of
independence is signifi cant. In
addition, a separate entrance
can make a home seem less like
a multigenerational residence,
which at times can feel crowded,
and more like a single-generation
home. That can afford
all residents a little more peace
and quiet in a typical day.
• Expect an increase in taxes
if you’re adding on. As with
any addition to a home, adding
an in-law suite to an existing
home is likely to result in an increase in homeowners’
property taxes. The amount of that increase
is contingent upon variables unique to
each residence, like location and the size of the
addition. When shopping for homes with exist
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