The ‘Sandwich Generation’ Has Hit Its Peak—Here’s How It Will Impact Suburban Housing

Gen X Americans are caught in the middle—supporting aging parents and adult children alike. And while many have built up home equity, a lack of time is pushing them to swap square footage for a better quality of life.

Roughly 1 in 6 Americans falls into this sandwich generation, according to a Realtor.com® survey. Of those, 16% are Gen X.

Jay Ramsden, 57, of Boston is a member of the generation. Known as the "Empty Nest Life Coach," Ramsden assists his two twentysomething kids with a portion of their high Boston rent while also being the primary caregiver for his mother-in-law, who has lived with him and his wife for two years. In addition, he helps his brother care for his parents, who are 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 economic research analyst at Realtor.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'

In the past, Generation X (those born 1965 to 1980) has been called the "latchkey generation," the "MTV generation," and the "forgotten generation."

But now, a real estate expert has dubbed Gen X the "hinge generation"—and the reason just might surprise you.

Mike Hathorne, author of "The Great Housing Reversal and the New American Dream," claims that Generation X has quietly become the "hinge" on which the next era of American housing will turn.

In a post on LinkedIn, he says that as of 2026, Gen X is at peak earnings but squeezed—caring for aging parents and supporting kids, often from large, car-dependent suburban homes that no longer fit their lives. They’re “house rich, time poor,” with equity but little convenience or community. Many want to trade space for walkability, lower upkeep, and better access 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 mother lives with her full time. "They need flexibility for extended family living arrangements."

As boomers age out of their homes, Hathorne says that Gen X will play a leading role in what happens next: whether homes sell as-is to a shrinking segment of nuclear-family buyers, convert into rentals, adapt through ADUs and internal splits, or gradually decline if upkeep and demand fall out of alignment.

Hathorne says the choices Gen X households make will influence whether older subdivisions soft-land into more flexible neighborhoods or hard-land into vacancy, disinvestment, and fragmented ownership.

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 increasingly 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 may increasingly tilt toward larger homes, flexible layouts, accessory dwelling units, and communities that can support both older adults and younger families, according to Jones.

Gen X trends in real estate

When it comes to Gen Xers, there are many things that set them apart 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 looked into Lennar’s Next Gen Homes, designed for multigenerational living, as she navigates caring for young children while her parents 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 third (33%) of sandwich generation Americans say that caretaking both children and older family members is helping them afford to buy a home.

Phoenix real estate agent Stacy Miller of Re/Max Fine Properties is seeing many clients pool money with family 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 is 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 move, Miller says many are looking for amenities—a community pool and clubhouse, pickleball courts, and nearby shopping and restaurants.

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."