Multigenerational Homes in Port St. Lucie: Lakeside vs Camden

"A multigenerational home is a house with space set up so more than one generation can live under one roof, with some privacy for each. Two Port St. Lucie Spot Lots plans offer this: the Lakeside, where a Multi-Gen Suite is an option, and the Camden, which includes one. Below we explain what that means, who it fits, and what the builder does and does not publish, so you know which questions to ask on a call.

What is a multigenerational home?

It is a home built so grandparents, parents, adult children or long-term guests can share one address and still have their own space. Builders and agents use a few common features for this:

• A bedroom and bathroom that are set apart from the rest of the house

• Sometimes a small kitchen area, called a kitchenette

• Sometimes a separate entrance

• A layout that gives each person a place to retreat

Not every multigenerational home has all of these. That is why you should always ask what a specific plan really includes. A general guide from a builder in another state describes the idea as flexible rooms, in-law suites, separate entrances and kitchens: general guide to multigenerational homes. That is a general definition, not a list of what these two plans have.

Who a multigenerational layout fits

This kind of home can help in many real-life situations:

• A parent who is moving in with the family and wants a room and bath of their own

• An adult child who is saving up and wants to live close to home for a while

• A family that has long-term guests a few times a year

• A household that cares for an older relative and wants them close by but not on top of everyone

It is also worth saying who it may not fit. If you never have extra people in the home, a plan with a suite you do not use is extra space and extra cost. In that case, a simpler plan like the Cali or the Madison may be the better pick. We would rather say that plainly.

The two plans: Lakeside and Camden

The Spot Lots community has five plans. Two of them have a Multi-Gen Suite. They are not the same, so let's compare them with the facts the builder has published.

The Lakeside

The Lakeside has five bedrooms, three baths, a two-car garage and about 2,077 square feet. It is a one-story home with a covered lanai (a covered outdoor sitting area). The primary suite has a walk-in closet, and there are four more bedrooms.

The Multi-Gen Suite is optional. The builder's page says it transforms part of the home into a comfortable, semi-private living space for extended family or long-term guests. That is all the page says. It does not give the suite's bedroom count, bath count or entry details.

The Camden

The Camden is the largest plan here. It has four bedrooms plus a Multi-Gen Suite, three and a half baths, a three-car garage and about 2,836 square feet. The builder describes the suite as a flexible space with its own bedroom, bathroom and an optional kitchenette.

Other Camden facts from the builder: a great room that flows into the dining area, a café and the kitchen; quartz countertops; a covered lanai; and a primary suite with two vanities and a large walk-in closet. Two more bedrooms share a full bath.

Lakeside versus Camden, side by side

Here is what the table tells you in plain words.

The Camden is the larger home, and it costs more. It has about 759 more square feet and a third garage bay. Expect the Camden's price to be higher than the Lakeside's. Call us for today's numbers, because they change.

The Lakeside suite is optional. That means you choose it. It also means you must ask what the option adds, what it costs and what it looks like once added. The builder's page does not say.

The Camden suite is part of the plan. The builder names a bedroom, a bathroom and an optional kitchenette. The word optional there applies to the kitchenette, so ask whether it is included in the price you are quoted.

There is one more thing to flag. The Camden's own page text says three and a half baths, but a small summary tile on the same page shows three. We used the plan-page text. Ask when you call and get the answer in writing.

What the builder does not publish

This is the part many articles skip. Here is what we could not find on the builder's pages:

• The size of either suite

• Whether the suite has its own outside door

• The exact layout of the suite inside the house

• Room measurements for any plan in this community

We will not guess at these. If a door, a size or a layout matters to your family, it matters a lot. Call 561-704-0091 and we will request the details for the plan you like.

Where the homes sit

Spot Lots homes are built on individual homesites on different streets across Port St. Lucie, not in one neighborhood. So a multigenerational plan can be offered on a lot in one part of the city, and another plan on a lot in a different part. Ask which homesites are open for the plan you want, then see where each one sits. Our neighborhoods guide helps you read the map.

If someone in the household still drives to West Palm Beach for work, see our guide to the drive from Port St. Lucie to West Palm Beach. It names the roads and exits so you can trace the way out of each homesite.

Things to think about as a family

Before you pick, sit down together and answer a few plain questions.

1. Who will use the suite, and for how long?

2. Does that person climb stairs well? All five plans are one story, so no stairs inside the home.

3. Do you need a kitchenette, or will a shared kitchen do?

4. Do you need a separate entrance? If yes, ask before you fall in love with a plan.

5. Will the suite sit empty some of the year? If yes, think about the cost.

Then look at life around the home. Families with several generations often want weekend plans for everyone. Our guides to things to do in Port St. Lucie, beaches near Port St. Lucie, golf courses and shopping cover easy outings.

The other plans, for comparison

If a suite is not a must, the other three plans may work. The Cali is four bedrooms and two baths. The Madison is four bedrooms and three baths with a three-car garage. The Covington is five bedrooms and three baths with a split-bedroom layout, which means the bedrooms are placed in separate parts of the house for more privacy. See all plans on the community page at Port St. Lucie Spot Lots community page.

Common Questions

Ready to talk? Call 561-704-0091 or book a visit at schedule a visit and we will walk through the homes with you."