Homes With Room for Family in Dallas

What makes a home work for more than one generation?

Privacy and easy access, for everyone. Homes that work for two or three generations give each household its own space to retreat to and a way to get around without stairs.

• A main-floor bedroom and full bath: the first thing to look for if a parent will live with you or may need it later.
• Step-free entry: at least one door from the driveway or garage with no steps.
• Wide halls and doorways: room for a walker or wheelchair, now or later.
• A shower without a curb: easier and safer than a tub.
• A second living area: a den, a game room or a suite with a sitting room, so each household has a quiet place.
• Laundry on the main floor.

Many newer two-story homes in Plano and Frisco put a bedroom suite on the main floor. Older one-story ranch homes in North Dallas, Far North Dallas and Lake Highlands can work too, sometimes with small changes.

Guest house, casita or separate entrance: what should I check?

Check that it is legal and permitted before you pay for it. A guest house or casita can be the reason you buy a home, or a problem you inherit.

1. Permits: ask the seller for the permits and look up the address in the city's permit records. Work done without permits can be hard to insure, finance or sell.
2. Zoning: each city decides whether a second living unit is allowed on the lot, and whether it may have a kitchen or be rented. Ask the city's planning or zoning office about the specific address.
3. Deed restrictions and HOA rules: these can limit a second unit even where the city allows it. Read them before your option period ends.
4. Utilities: find out whether the guest house shares meters, water heaters and the sewer line with the main house.
5. The appraisal district record: see whether the building is listed, since that affects value and taxes.

A separate entrance to a suite inside the main house is often simpler, because it is part of the home and usually needs no extra approval. It still pays to confirm any remodel was permitted.

Can we add a suite after we buy?

Often, but find out before you buy. Setbacks, lot coverage, easements, zoning and HOA approval can all limit an addition or a new guest house.

The survey shows the lot lines and easements. A city's zoning office can tell you what the lot allows. An architect or contractor can give you a rough idea of what the work would take. If the plan depends on the addition, do this homework during the option period so you can still walk away.

Which inspections matter most?

A full inspection of every building on the lot. Ask your inspector to include the guest house, and add the checks below when they apply.

• Foundation: Dallas clay soil moves, so have a foundation specialist look if the inspector sees signs of movement.
• Sewer line: a camera scope of the line, especially for older homes and for a guest house tied into the main line.
• HVAC and electrical: a guest house may have its own systems, or it may be stretching the main ones.
• Roof: age and condition of every roof, since insurers look closely at them.
• Accessibility features: grab bars anchored into framing, ramps built to hold weight, and showers that drain well.

In Texas, you usually have an option period in the contract to do all of this. Plan the inspections for the first days, so there is time to get bids and negotiate.

If you plan changes for a parent, such as a ramp, a wider door or a new shower, ask the inspector or a contractor to look at those spots too. A quick opinion on what the work involves helps you decide whether the house really fits before the option period ends.

Can we buy a home together with our grown children?

Yes, many families do. It goes smoothly when everyone agrees on the hard questions before the offer, with help from a lender and a real estate attorney. This is general information, not legal or lending advice.

Questions for an attorney:

• How will we hold title, and what happens if one of us dies?
• What happens if one of us wants to sell or move out?
• Should we sign a written agreement on who pays for what?

Questions for a lender:

• Whose names go on the loan, and whose income and credit count?
• Can a parent contribute part of the down payment, and what paperwork does that need?
• How does owning another home affect our preapproval?

Ask the appraisal district who can claim the homestead exemption on a shared home, and talk to a CPA about any gift or estate questions.

How I help families find room

I start with how your family will live in the house: who sleeps where, who needs the main floor and how much privacy each household wants. Then I look for homes that fit, including ones shared inside Dave Perry-Miller before they reach the listing sites. If you have a home to sell first, the sell and buy page covers the order of steps.

My dad built custom homes and ranches, and from the 1970s through the 1990s he specialized in Preston Hollow and the Park Cities. Growing up in a real estate family taught me to look past the finishes to how a house is built and used, and to call in an inspector when something needs a closer look.