We’re in the midst of the greatest wealth transfer in history. Between now and 2045, older Americans will bequeath an estimated $84 trillion to Gen X and millennial heirs. But what isn’t explicitly stated about that number is how much of that wealth is tied up in real estate, after decades of enormous growth in housing prices. Accessing that wealth often means selling the family home, a move that can cause conflict among family members.
The sources of tension can be many. One sibling might have been planning to live in the home while another was planning to sell it. Perhaps one sibling shouldered their parents’ care and feels that he or she has earned more right to make decisions on what to do with the inheritance, while another sibling is more in need. Some may be attached to the family home, its memories and its connection to a place or community, while others may be eager to sever themselves from it.
I write about housing for The New York Times Magazine. For an article I’m researching, I’d like to talk to families who feel that inheriting a home fundamentally changed their family dynamic, in order to understand how they think about housing and inheritance. I want to look at how this process can tear a family apart or bring it together.
I’ll read every submission, and I’ll contact you if I’m interested in learning more about your story and possibly including some of it in the article. We will not publish any part of your submission until we’ve reached out to you and heard back. We won’t share your contact information outside the newsroom or use it for any reason other than reporting this story.
