Does it feel like you have to choose between buying a home and paying for childcare right now?
For a lot of people in Utah, that’s exactly what it feels like. And it’s pushing some families to think differently about how they buy.
Why This Is Coming Up More Often
If you’ve been looking at homes lately, you already know the numbers aren’t as easy as they used to be.
Now add childcare into the mix.
The Department of Health and Human Services suggests childcare shouldn’t exceed 7% of your income. But in reality, many families are spending closer to 10%.
When you stack that on top of a mortgage, everyday expenses, and everything else life throws at you, it’s easy to see why buying a home can feel just out of reach.
What Some Utah Families Are Doing Instead
Instead of waiting it out, some families are getting creative.
One option that’s becoming more common is buying a home with family. Think parents, grandparents, or even siblings all going in together.
This isn’t just a rare situation anymore.
About 1 in 7 buyers purchased a multi-generational home in 2025. And for the first time, childcare is actually one of the reasons why.
Why This Approach Makes Sense
For a lot of people, this solves two big challenges at once.
First, it makes the numbers work. When you combine incomes, you may be able to afford something that wouldn’t have been possible on your own.
Second, it helps with childcare. Having family in the home can take a huge weight off your shoulders day to day, both financially and logistically.
That combination is what’s making this option click for so many buyers right now.
What This Looks Like in Utah
Here locally, buyers are starting to look for homes that can actually support this kind of setup.
That might mean:
A finished basement with its own space
A home with multiple living areas
Layouts that give everyone a little privacy while still living together
It’s less about squeezing people in and more about finding a home that works for how you want to live.
If buying a home in Utah feels out of reach right now, it doesn’t always mean you have to press pause.
Sometimes it just means looking at a different way to get there.
For some families, that means doing it together instead of doing it alone.
What Should You Do Next?
If this idea has crossed your mind, it’s worth having a conversation.
At The Lance Group Real Estate, we’ll walk you through what’s possible here in Utah and help you figure out if a multi-generational setup actually makes sense for you.
Sources: NAR (2025), Visual Capitalist, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
