Lennar’s New Next Gen® Homes Proving Popular with Charlotte-Area Homebuyers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Aug. 9, 2013 - PRLog -- CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Ron Harmon is not your typical homebuyer.  The director of purchasing for the city of Bradenton, Fla., plans to retire in the Charlotte area.  But rather than looking for a smaller home for him and his wife to settle into, Harmon sought a place where his mother-in-law and his adult daughter, who has autism, could also live under their roof while enjoying privacy and independence.

The Harmons looked at more than two dozen Charlotte-area homes before purchasing Lennar’s Harmony model in Lawson at Deer Meadows in Waxhaw, an example of the company’s Next Gen® homes designed specifically for the growing number of multigenerational families in America.

“The home we built in Florida years ago is actually similar to the Next Gen concept because it was created to accommodate my aging parents as well as my adult daughter,” said Harmon.  “Mom and dad are gone now, but my wife’s mother will be moving into the Next Gen space while my daughter takes one of the second-floor bedrooms.  We’re just thrilled to find a move-in-ready home that will allow everyone to have their privacy and independence, but still be there for one another.”

Lennar’s Next Gen models are literally a home within a home, offering all the features and amenities needed for extended family members to enjoy truly independent living.  Each home includes a fully functional, first-floor private suite complete with living room, bedroom and bathroom; a separate entrance with its own doorbell; a separate kitchenette with convection microwave, dishwasher, sink and optional refrigerator; separate laundry area; even a separate zone in the HVAC system with its own programmable thermostat.

Ranging from 3,101 to more than 4,058 square feet, each Next Gen home is thoughtfully designed to meet the evolving demands of homebuyers, an increasing number of which have extended family members living under the same roof. 

According to BusinessWeek, the U.S. Census estimates that multigenerational households increased by 30 percent from 2000 to 2010.  In fact, a Pew Research Center study shows that 50 million Americans – or nearly one in every six – currently live in a multigenerational household, and this number is expected to steadily climb in the coming years.

“Families look and live differently than in previous decades, and they need different things from each other and their homes,” explained housing expert David Kalosis, senior vice president for California-based John Burns Real Estate Consulting.  “Whether it’s an aging parent or an adult child returning to the nest, changing demographics mean the homes we build have to serve a wider variety of lifestyles.”

In fact, citing a tremendous response to the June introduction of Charlotte’s first-ever homes designed exclusively for the needs of today’s multigenerational families, Lennar is expanding the availability of its unique collection of Next Gen floor plans to six of its Queen City communities.

Initially introduced at Lawson at Deer Meadows community in Waxhaw and Brookedale Commons in Harrisburg, the innovative Next Gen homes will now also be available at Carolina Reserve Enclave in Indian Land, S.C.; Lawson at Litchfield, also in Waxhaw; Pecan Hills in Mooresville; and Waterford Enclave in Davidson.  Prices start at just $249,900 at Carolina Reserve and range up to the $370s at Lawson at Litchfield, surprisingly comparable on a price-per-square-foot basis to other homes within the same community.

Of course, the rest of the home still must have its share of bells and whistles as well.  Next Gen homes typically boast an additional three to four bedrooms upstairs, plus a loft or bonus space.  The first floor features a full kitchen with spacious breakfast room and an extra-large family room, perfect for multigenerational living.  Some floor plans also include formal living and dining rooms, outdoor living areas or extra storage space to accommodate the needs of extended families.

And like all other Lennar homes, every Next Gen home offers money-saving ENERGY STAR® features along with Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® program, which provides luxury features such as hardwood floors, ceramic tile and stainless steel appliances as standard items built into the home’s base price, with no surprises or hidden costs.  With other builders such features are typically offered as upgrades, often adding thousands of dollars to the cost of the home.

Harmon says he and his wife, who decided to retire to the Waxhaw area based on friends’ recommendations, began their search by looking at existing homes with a suitable square footage and number of rooms, figuring they’d have to modify whatever they found to meet the needs of their multigenerational family.  Finding a brand new home with all the latest features, plus the added benefit of the private Next Gen suite, proved to be the perfect combination.

“My mother-in-law is very independent, so it’s great that she has her own laundry, her own kitchen, even her own private entrance so she can walk down to the pool whenever she chooses,” said Harmon.  “But there’s plenty in the house for everyone else – a great main kitchen, a big open, floor plan, and an additional loft space that’s ideal for my wife’s craft area.  Put it all together and we feel like this house represents a tremendous value.”

While Harmon acknowledges that his mother-in-law living with them will save $3,000 to $4,000 a month compared to an assisted living facility, he says peace of mind is the primary factor in his three-generation family’s decision to live under the same roof.

“Think about how you’d like to live if you were an aging parent or an adult child,” Harmon said.  “My mom had Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s, and my dad had cancer.  Being able to take them to doctor appointments and provide for their needs at home was a real blessing as they became less able to care for themselves.  That’s what family’s all about, and we’re thrilled that our new home will allow us to be there for my daughter and mother-in-law.”

###

About Lennar
Lennar Corp., founded in 1954 and headquartered in Miami, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations.  Building homes in 18 states, Lennar offers affordable, move-up and retirement homes in communities that cater to almost any lifestyle.  For more information about Lennar, visit www.lennar.com.