SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES
OK, kids: How long should you live with the folks?
Aug 14, 2013, 6:32 AM | Updated: Mar 4, 2016, 5:52 am
Justin Clark sits in front of his parents million-dollar waterfront home where he lives rent free. He and his sister, both live at home while they to start their professional careers. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)
(AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)
Once you’re out of school, how soon should you be out of your parents’ house and living on your own?
The younger your parents are, the more time they’re willing to give you, according to a new study by Coldwell Banker Real Estate.
Overall, 20 percent of Americans say it’s OK for adult children to live at home as long as they want, while 13 percent said it’s never OK to live at home with mom and dad after college, according to the study.
But Millennial parents – those ages 18 to 34 – say it’s acceptable for adult kids to live at home for up to six years after college. Parents ages 55 and older say kids should be out of the house by no more than three years after college.
“In terms of transitioning into independent adulthood, it’s almost as if 27 is the new 18,” said psychotherapist Dr. Robi Ludwig, who serves as Coldwell Banker’s lifestyle correspondent. “Living at home can be a great opportunity for young adults who need some time to get on their feet, but it’s only beneficial if the time is used wisely. Our twenties are a very crucial time because the decisions we make and the lessons we learn then influence who we become as adults.”
Despite the leniency among some parents, 65 percent of Americans say they believe adult kids living at home are overstaying their welcome, according to the study. That sentiment is stronger among parents 55 and older (73 percent) than Millennial parents (58 percent).
