Brooklyn Brownstones Stay All in the Family
This morning The Observer reports on how many kids who grew up in houses in the Brownstone Belt are, as adults, moving back in with mom and dad. The trend is seen as having a lot to do with brownstone neighborhoods now being hip and yet frequently unaffordable for recent grads who might otherwise make…
This morning The Observer reports on how many kids who grew up in houses in the Brownstone Belt are, as adults, moving back in with mom and dad. The trend is seen as having a lot to do with brownstone neighborhoods now being hip and yet frequently unaffordable for recent grads who might otherwise make a go of it alone:
All the graduates interviewed for this story agreed that living on your own in New York City was possible, especially if you had a well-paying corporate job. But for those who hope to someday own property in the areas where they grew up, or to make a career in a less lucrative field, living with your parents makes a certain kind of sense; you can’t afford not to.
The bigger question, maybe, is how much more prevalent this phenomenon is in brownstone areas (which often have bigger houses than in other parts of the city) than it is in other NYC neighborhoods or even the U.S. as a whole. Could this just be part of a larger cultural shift in which more kids are coming back home post-college, or is it indeed more common in brownstone Brooklyn?
Full Brownstone Nests) [NY Observer]
Photo from Orchard Lake.
rh: “What happened to compromise and living in a fringe area so you can go it alone?”
It was a product of a specific historical time–partly cultural (the baby boom era), partly economic (relatively low housing prices + postwar prosperity that gave “independent” kids a safety net to fall back on). As posters here have noted, mutligenerational houses are a much, much older, longer-standing. You could just as well ask, What happened to that?
As for me, I did compromise, get roommates, live in a fringe area and ultimately buy my own place on a tiny nonprofit salary–but that was in the early and mid 90s. I’m not so smug as to pretend that it’s as easy now.
None of this is new for immigrants. In other countries three generations lived under a single roof. Grandparents took care of grandchildren and people took care of their parents. Each generation learned from each other and it was a way to keep a lot of the family wealth intact. Modern and western cultures emphasize independence over the family. Its very much about me rather than us.
My first generation American aunt and uncle bought a huge mansion to someday live with their two sons and their family like in the old country. Their sons and wives opted to live on their own.
Its not for everyone but like poster 1:18 I would love to live with my family on day. Its great for child care, saving money, spending time together and living greener. However, I myself haven’t come to this conclusion until I’ve lived a fair bit on my own.
there was just a huge article recently about how pathetic italy has become with all the kids living with their parents.
one of the reasons nothing good has come out of italy for quite a while now.
First of all, why would a 20 something want to live with their parents? So you are saying that kids save so they can live in a “decent area”. What happened to compromise and living in a fringe area so you can go it alone? They are in their 20’s! If I hadn’t lived in a 5th floor East Village roach/mouse infested walk up with a shower in my kitchen when I was younger, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
2:16
…all grown up in that studio apartment aren’t you!
I left home at 18 to go to college, immediately went to graduate school and then immediately moved to nyc in 2000.
I rented for 7 years and bought my first place in PS in 2006.
I work in the arts, make less than 100K a year and have no help from family.
All of you people are lazy, entitled and don’t know the value of working hard to accomplish things on your own.
Living with parents into your 20’s and 30’s is disgusting, in my opinion.
GET A LIFE!!!
1:31 …we both paid however she paid more of what wasn’t covered by various scholarships and grants. My graduation ‘gift’ was a place to stay and absolving me of my past credit card charge-offs in exchange for ‘growing up’….
…incidentally, I’ve since made her whole on those credit cards, those school loans-and then some….
There’s no way most kids graduate from college and are ready for what life throws at them….making it through college is one thing, readying them for this rat race is another. Forcing them out at 21ish is probably the worst thing you can do….unless you want them working for some website called ‘Emperor’…
1:31, how are you going to save for a downpayment if you are renting?? Rents are also pretty high in a half decent area.
1:25 makes a valid point, 100K is not what is used to be regardless if you renting or owning especially if you have schools loans and other loans / expenses. Living at home allows you the opportunity to save and pay down debt, I think today if possible this is the best way to go.
1:31, how are you going to save for a downpayment if you are renting?? Rents are also pretty high in a half decent area.
1:25 makes a valid point, 100K is not what is used to be regardless if you renting or owning especially if you have schools loans and other loans / expenses. Living at home allows you the opportunity to save and pay down debt, I think today if possible this is the best way to go.