The ‘sandwich generation’ is downsizing while caring for family members — right here’s how this will influence suburban housing | Real Estate Market Insights

Gen X Americans are caught in the middle—supporting aging mother and father and grownup youngsters alike. And while many have constructed up home equity, a lack of time is pushing them to swap sq. footage for a better high quality of life.

Roughly one in six Americans falls into this sandwich era, according to a Realtor.com® survey. Of those, 16% are Gen X.

Jay Ramsden, 57, of Boston is a member of the era. Known as the “Empty Nest Life Coach,” Ramsden assists his two twentysomething children with a portion of their high Boston rent while also being the main caregiver for his mother-in-law, who has lived with him and his spouse for 2 years.

In addition, he helps his brother look after his mother and father, who’re 88 and 86.

“Many Gen X homeowners are simultaneously managing their own mortgage or rent while helping adult children with housing costs and/or contributing financially to aging parents,” says Hannah Jones, senior financial research analyst at Realtor.com.

Many Gen X Americans are supporting growing older mother and father and grownup youngsters alike. Drazen – stock.adobe.com

“Rising insurance premiums, property taxes, and maintenance costs compound this pressure.”

Ramsden notes that “if you look at how Generation X was raised, we tend to be more independent, have grit, and tend to be more self-reliant, which is a strength in helping both our parents and our children who are launching. However, it can also be a hindrance as we, as a generation, are not ones to ask for help, which can add to our stress while in the sandwich generation.”

Gen X also dubbed the ‘hinge generation’

Mike Hathorne, author of “The Great Housing Reversal and the New American Dream,” claims that Generation X has quietly change into the “hinge” on which the next period of American housing will flip.

In a post on LinkedIn, he says that as of 2026, Gen X is at peak earnings however squeezed—caring for growing older mother and father and supporting children, often from large, car-dependent suburban properties that no longer match their lives.

They’re “house rich, time poor,” with equity however little comfort or community. Many wish to commerce space for walkability, decrease maintenance, and better entry to daily life.

“Having witnessed their parents lose homes during economic downturns, they’re prioritizing practical multigenerational housing: less square footage, walkable access to services, and locations that support delivery options,” says Sher Downing—a Gen Xer whose 92-year-old mom lives together with her full time.

“They need flexibility for extended family living arrangements.”

As boomers age out of their properties, Hathorne says that Gen X will play a main position in what occurs next: whether or not properties promote as-is to a shrinking phase of nuclear-family patrons, convert into leases, adapt via ADUs and inner splits, or progressively decline if maintenance and demand fall out of alignment.

Hathorne says the selections Gen X households make will affect whether or not older subdivisions soft-land into more versatile neighborhoods or hard-land into emptiness, disinvestment, and fragmented possession.

Jones agrees, saying, “Gen X is likely to play an outsized role in the next phase of the housing market as boomers age out of their homes. Sitting between aging parents and dependent or semidependent children, many Gen X households are making housing decisions that are less about preference and more about necessity.”

Jones says that as boomers more and more need care or transition out of homeownership, “Gen X is often the generation facilitating those moves, whether by helping parents age in place, consolidating households, or purchasing homes that can accommodate multiple generations.”

This dynamic has the potential to reshape suburban neighborhoods as demand could more and more tilt towards bigger properties, versatile layouts, accent dwelling models, and communities that can assist each older adults and youthful households, according to Jones.

Gen X traits in real estate

When it involves Gen Xers, there are many issues that set them aside in the real estate market.

“Unlike millennials and Gen Z, Generation X is asking questions like ‘Where does my mom live in case I need to help her?’ or ‘Where is my child attending college in case they want to come home?’” Ryann Brier of City Lights Home Buyers in Grand Rapids, MI, tells Realtor.com.

“Generation X is often looking for two living rooms, a finished basement, one main floor, and a flexible kitchen layout where you don’t feel cramped. This allows their children to move back in with them without hassle and also provides the flexibility to take care of a parent or loved one.”

Psychologist Amanda Keating notes that she has seemed into Lennar’s Next Gen Homes, designed for multigenerational residing, as she navigates caring for younger youngsters while her mother and father and in-laws grow older.

“We’ll probably end up having to build on to our current home, but I remain hopeful more of these options will be around when I’m finding my own support needs increase,” she says.

A 3rd (33%) of sandwich era Americans say that caretaking each youngsters and older relations helps them afford to purchase a home.

Phoenix real estate agent Stacy Miller of Re/Max Fine Properties is seeing many shoppers pool money with household for housing.

“I closed on four multigenerational deals last year and have two already under contract for this year,” Miller tells Realtor.com.

“Some are selling their big family homes so they can buy a multigenerational home that allows for private spaces but under the same roof. This allows elderly family members to not necessarily have to go to assisted living—and with so many Gen Xers working from home, it’s opening up a whole new way of living.”

Instead of upsizing, other Gen Xers are downsizing.

“There are some that have started to downsize out of larger homes as their kids have graduated from college, moved out, and started jobs elsewhere,” Cara Ameer, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker who’s licensed in Florida and California, tells Realtor.com.

“Some are also relocating to be closer to kids if they are married and starting families, so they can be near grandchildren.”

When they do transfer, Miller says many are in search of facilities—a community pool and clubhouse, pickleball courts, and close by purchasing and eating places.

But others are staying put.

“Some Gen Xers have paid off their homes and opting to stay put given the high prices of buying another home, interest rates, and the cost of moving, in general,” says Ameer.

“They are more financially comfortable with a home that is paid off versus having to buy another home and take on a mortgage.”

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