A Growing Trend in Real Estate: The Modern Family Compound

Across the country, and especially here in the Pacific Northwest, families are finding creative ways to live closer together. Whether it’s aging parents who need a bit more support or adult children trying to make ends meet in a competitive housing market, the idea of the family compound is gaining traction.

Recent changes in local zoning and state legislation have made it easier than ever to add Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADUs) to existing properties. In many areas, homeowners with typical parcels, often 6,000 square feet or more, can now build a secondary home right on their lot. These smaller, independent dwellings can serve as guest houses, income rentals, or multigenerational housing solutions.

We’ve seen this concept come to life in powerful and personal ways. One of our longtime clients recently purchased a home in Tacoma’s North End on a generous 7,000-square-foot lot. When her mother faced knee surgery and began thinking about long-term accessibility, they decided to build a DADU designed specifically for her comfort and independence. We’re now assisting the family in selling Mom’s current North End home through a private sale, allowing her to rent back the property until her new home is complete, proof that thoughtful planning can create both flexibility and peace of mind.

We helped another one of our long-time clients sell both their home and their parents home to purchase a larger, more rural home where there was an additional dwelling. The grandparents help with childcare, and they help with their aging father. 

For families with larger properties, there are even more possibilities. Some are using Boundary Line Adjustments (BLAs) to divide part of their parcel, creating room for another family member’s home while maintaining proximity and connection. These types of arrangements not only keep loved ones close, but also create shared spaces for childcare, caregiving, and community—values that many homeowners are rediscovering in today’s housing market.

If you’ve been dreaming of creating a space where generations can live, grow, and thrive together, our legacy listing at Horsehead Bay in Gig Harbor might be the perfect fit. With ample land and potential for future expansion, it could become the foundation for your family’s next chapter.

Give us a call to explore how design, space, and creativity can come together to make a family compound a reality.

Regina Madiera-Gorden | REALTOR®

RM HOME SPECIALISTS, Managing Broker

Windermere West Campus

Cell: 253-381-6685 | call/text/email