Multi-Generational Living in New Orleans: A 2025 Trend That’s Never Been a Trend Here

Last updated: Oct 2025.

What multigenerational living actually looks like here

It works best when the home already supports separate-but-close living: think doubles, rear cottages, camelbacks, and secondary suites. Look for a first-floor bedroom, at least one private bath, and two living zones. Verify flood/insurance, title & succession, and zoning/permits early, and plan inspections for structure, termites, and sewer.

Quick steps

1. Choose the layout (double, rear cottage, camelback, secondary suite).

2. Confirm first-floor sleeping + private bath option.

3. Check flood zone & insurance before touring deeply.

4. Verify title/succession and any past permits.

5. Inspect: general, termite, sewer scope.

6. Map privacy: entries, sound, storage.

7. Pick financing that fits older homes/renovations.

Multi-generational living is everywhere right now—showing up in headlines, real estate blogs, and even national market reports. But in New Orleans? It’s not a trend. It’s a way of life.

Questions our buyers ask us all the time?

What kinds of New Orleans homes work for multigenerational living? Doubles, rear cottages, camelbacks, and homes with a secondary suite. Aim for a first-floor sleeping option and at least one private bath.

Do I need two kitchens or separate meters ?Not always. Many families use a kitchenette or wet bar plus shared main kitchen. Separate meters can help with bills but aren’t required.

Are first-floor bedrooms a must? They’re ideal for comfort. If all bedrooms are upstairs, consider a main-level flex room that can convert and still keep the walkway clear.

What inspections matter most for older homes? General + termite + sewer scope. For raised homes, some floor lean is common—your inspector will flag what’s typical vs. structural.

How do I handle title and succession? Use a local title company; Louisiana succession histories can affect timing and paperwork. We’ll set that team up on day one.

What are the must knows about buying in New Orleans?

So glad you asked. Here's 8 things we wish all buyers knew.

Doubles, rear cottages, and camelbacks

If you’ve lived here long enough, you’ve seen it. You might be living it. It’s in our doubles and rear cottages. Our camelbacks and side-yard guest houses. It’s in the layout of homes where one family becomes two, and two stay together just enough to still enjoy each other.

And professionally, I’ve seen the demand for these kinds of homes grow, especially over the past year.

The practical wish list (first-floor bedroom, two living zones, private bath)

We just wrapped up an almost year-long search with a retired couple looking for something that worked for their Mom. What they needed was rare: a downstairs bedroom that wasn’t a luxury suite. Something simple, comfortable, and dignified. And it wasn’t easy. Competition was high. The options were limited. But that search told me everything—multi-generational buyers aren’t just out there. They’re in it. Actively. Patiently. Willing to fight for the right fit.

And lately? I’ve been feeling this trend personally, too.

I didn’t expect to love it this much. But I do.

With a seven-month-old at home and two moms who visit often—flying or driving in at least once a month—I get it now in a different way. Sure, the shared baby help is a gift. But what surprised me most was how much I actually like having them here. We don’t just get things done—we enjoy each other. There’s rhythm, laughter, shared meals, easy moments.

It’s made me realize something I hadn’t quite seen before: This isn’t just about right now. It’s a glimpse of the future. A future where we show up for our parents the way they showed up for us.

And the homes that support that life? They’re here.

Sometimes that looks like a shotgun double. Sometimes it’s a rear cottage. And sometimes, it’s what we lovingly call a “mother-in-law condo.” Not because she’s living in your guest room—but because she’s living a block away, in a unit with a pool, an elevator, a dog run, secure garage parking, and a place that feels good to visit.

We help represent a building downtown called The Saxony, and yes—we’ve got a unit listed there now. But even more importantly, it represents a model for how families are thinking differently. Parents co-signing for adult kids. Grown children making room for parents—not just to help out, but to belong.

It’s not about cramming. It’s about closeness. Not forced, just possible.

The unglamorous checks that make it livable

According to Pew Research Center, nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults now live in multi-generational households. Among younger adults (ages 25–34), it’s nearly 1 in 4. And 70% of those households say they experience emotional and financial benefits—closer bonds, shared responsibilities, and the kind of support that’s hard to quantify but impossible to ignore.

In New Orleans, this isn’t new. It’s how we’ve always lived. It’s why our neighborhoods have names and personalities. Why people wave from their porch instead of their car window.Why the front door is rarely the only one.

What’s ahead—and what’s coming soon

National real estate trends for 2025 talk a lot about:

• Remote work changing what people want in a home

• Sustainability and energy upgrades

• Virtual tours and AI-driven search tools

• Low inventory and high demand

All true. But the one that resonates most deeply here?Multi-generational living. Because it’s not new. It’s natural.

And it’s something we’ve built our business around.

We don’t just understand how to find homes that support this kind of living—we represent them.

We’ve got a:

AVAILABLE NOW

• Rare triplex in the Golden Rectangle (yes, you read that right) coming to market soon

• two-family compound in the Marigny that’s ready for real life across generations

Ready to look? Here’s how we help

Maybe the future isn’t about moving away. Maybe it’s about drawing closer to the people who raised you. To the ones you’re raising. To the family you've chosen for yourself. To a life that holds more than just your name on the deed.

The homes that support that kind of life exist. They’ve always existed here.

And we’re ready to help you find one that fits, now, and for whatever comes next because we get it. We do this every day. And we love a match made happily ever after no matter what that looks like for you.

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Voted Neighborhood Favorite by Nextdoor the last three years, Cool Murphy is a top-producing, licensed real estate team based in New Orleans, brokered by Cool Murphy, LLC.

Celebrated for her next-level creative approach to real estate, Elisa Cool Murphy is an award-winning, top-performing real estate broker in New Orleans and the founder of Cool Murphy Real Estate.

You can learn more about her here.

Contact Her -

email: cool@coolmurphy.com

Facebook: @homeinneworleans

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phone: 504-321-3194