One roof: multigenerations

Multigenerational living -- one of the newest trends in the housing industry -- is coming to Lennar's Madison Grove in Providence today, and will soon be coming to many Lennar communities across the Las Vegas Valley, according to Jeremy Parness, division president Lennar Las Vegas.

Lennar's research shows that due to the poor economy more and more extended family members are living together.

This new trend of multigenerational living has encouraged Lennar to design a home that allows extended family to live together in one home with separate living spaces.

Today, Lennar's Next Gen: The Home Within a Home's floor plan at Madison Grove is officially being unveiled to the public.

The Slidin' Thru food truck will be there serving up its gourmet slider burgers. There also will be music from 97.5 FM radio. The radio station will be giving away tickets to the sold-out Drake concert as a part of its Hoodies for the Holidays charity event that helps homeless children throughout the valley.

"We have a fun day planned for the whole family as we celebrate the opening of this ground-breaking floor plan," Parness said. "We are constantly keeping our finger on the pulse of new trends in homebuilding -- and these extraordinary floor plans are taking the company to the next level of innovation in homebuilding and providing homebuyers with even more flexibility and choices in the way they live."

Lennar's research showed a rising need for this type of living situation.

The builder addressed this need in the market with a distinctive floor plan that can accommodate different living arrangements, while still providing square footage and privacy.

"We have created this plan to allow for dual living situations without sacrificing comfort -- it's literally a home within a home." Parness said.

The builder's research showed the economy has dramatically contributed to the decision to build this type of product.

Many aging parents have seen their retirement investments diminish during recent years and many college-age children are finding it necessary to move back home.

With housing typically being the largest part of the monthly budget, moving in together is an option many are embracing.

"The opportunity for families to share a mortgage makes a lot of economic sense for many families," Parness said.

In fact, Lennar, surveyed more than 1,200 people in the country's Western region and found that one-third of respondents are already sharing their home with a parent, adult child or some other adult.

The Pew Research Center also shows 49 million Americans are living in a household that contained at least two adult generations, up from 28 million in 1980.

And the Census Bureau found last spring that 18.3 percent of U.S. households contained adult relatives or roommates, up from 17 percent four years earlier.

"Both the economics and the demographics of those already living in a multigenerational home made this an obvious solution," Parness said.

Located in the master-planned community of Providence in the northwest, the Pioneer residence at Madison Grove features a total of 3,460 square feet with four bedrooms, 3½ baths, loft, three-car garage and an option for an additional bedroom downstairs.

The private suite portion on the first floor includes a separate entrance, living space, kitchenette with GE appliances and stainless steel sink, private bedroom, full bath, included washer and dryer, one-car garage and an outdoor living space with barbecue stub. Plus, Timberlake 42-inch maple cabinetry and upper crown molding are included as standard.

Lennar designed this floor plan to be incorporated into the main home in a way that allows it to be a separate space but also offers direct access from the main house, depending upon the family's needs.

"Imagine having your parents nearby to help care for your children, or saving money on adult care for them because they live with you," Parness said. "Or being able to provide enough space for your child who needs to move in after college -- now you can have all that and still have the size home you need for your family. Lennar's Next Gen: The Home Within a Home, is essentially two homes with one payment, making living together affordable, comfortable and flexible to your family's needs."

Madison Grove also will offer four other floor plans to choose from.

The Tustin residence is a single-story home with 2,544 square feet, three bedrooms, den, 2½ baths, three-car garage and an optional fourth bedroom.

The two-story Monarch residence encompasses 3,242 square feet of living space, four bedrooms, loft, three baths, three-car garage and a fifth bedroom option.

In addition, the Vienna residence is 3,600 square feet with five bedrooms, with the master downstairs, loft, 3½ baths, three-car garage and an option for a second master bedroom.

The Bayview residence offers 3,865 square feet, five bedrooms, bonus room, 3½ baths, three-car garage and an option for a sixth or seventh bedroom or downstairs second master bedroom.

All of the homes at Madison Grove come with the builder's Everything's Included features, such as granite slab kitchen countertops and upgraded maple cabinetry throughout the home.

The homes also feature high-tech energy-efficient features, which are included in the price of the home.

Some of these are Schlage home automation, low VOC paint, radiant-barrier roof sheathing and Energy Star-rated appliances.

All of these homes are Energy Star certified and include modern green technology that saves money on energy bills.

The Welcome Home Center is located at 7430 Olmstead St. in Las Vegas.

For more information about Madison Grove or Lennar's Next Gen: The Home within a Home concept, call 877-204-4411 or visit LENNAR.com/LASVEGAS.