More families are buying together

By Lisa DiBiase

The Lakes Region has a long tradition of multi-generational gatherings built right into its history. The camp on the lake with the grandmother’s bedroom on the first floor and the cousins taking over the screened porch; most people around here know that setup.

The Maine camp, the family cottage on the water, the big old farmhouse sitting on a few acres outside of town. These are places that were always designed, in some sense, for more than one household to use. The difference we’re seeing in today’s market is that buyers want year-round setups, not just summer spots, and they’re coming to the Lakes Region specifically to find it.

The National Association of Realtors reported that 14 percent of home purchases in 2025 were multi-generational, and industry data suggests that close to one in five American households now include multiple generations under one roof. Gen X buyers, people in their mid-forties to early sixties, are leading this trend, and they’re not looking for just a seasonal gathering space.

They want a year-round setup and they’re thinking through the logistics the way you would place a small household's day-to-day operations. The Lakes Region properties that fit this tend to be the older camps and cottages that have been added onto over the decades, the farmhouses with a few outbuildings that could be converted into living spaces, or newer builds with finished lower levels and separate entries.

This also means they’re asking us different questions during showings. Does the garage have plumbing roughed in? Is there a separate entrance on that side of the house? Could the walk-out basement be finished into an apartment? How far is the second structure from the main?

Maine’s state law now makes this more workable than it used to be. Under legislation that has taken effect over the past couple of years, any single-family property in Maine can have at least one accessory dwelling unit added by right, meaning you do not need a special permit or a rezoning to build it, just standard building permits. That has changed the math for many buyers looking at a property and dreaming about what it could become. A two-acre lot in Windham, Raymond, or Casco that might have seemed too limited before now looks a whole lot better when you know you can build a second unit.

The properties I tend to show families who are buying together share a few features. Enough square footage or enough land that people genuinely have privacy when they want it. Separate entrances or the structural potential for them. Layouts where the kitchen and living spaces do not run through each other. And in the Lakes Region, specifically, access to the water or trails, because a shared experience is why people are choosing to purchase multi-unit spaces.

I want to be clear, though: this kind of purchase requires more upfront conversation than a typical real estate transaction. There are things to work through around how the mortgage is structured, how the deed is titled, and what happens to the property if circumstances change. None of that is insurmountable, and I work buyers through it all, but it is not a simple single-buyer purchase, and planning ahead makes all the difference. 

If this sounds like something your family has been looking for or talking about for years, we would love to join the conversation. The Lakes Region offers more options for this style of living, and Maine's legal landscape has never been more favorable for making it work.

As I have said before, please call a local REALTOR for all your real estate needs no matter how big or small. We are trained professionals here to make your life easier. It's best to surround yourself with the right team of professionals that can continuously give you the right advice for all your circumstances.

This article was brought to you by Lisa DiBiase, Broker/Co-Owner of Landing Real Estate. Lisa and her team proudly represent buyers and sellers across the Greater Portland, Lakes Region, and beyond. For all your real estate needs, contact Lisa at [email protected] or call (207) 775-SOLD. <