A resourceful father in the United States is being celebrated online after undertaking a major home renovation project to provide his adult daughters with free, luxury apartments, saving them from the exorbitant rental market of New York City.
The High Cost of City Living
Jamal Khadar, a 61-year-old construction company owner from Potomac, Maryland, decided to act after learning about the steep rents his daughters were paying. His eldest, Jameelah, 27, was spending approximately $2,200 monthly on a flex three-bedroom in Brooklyn's Cobble Hill, while her sister Hameedah, 26, paid around $2,800 for a studio in downtown Brooklyn.
With average rents in New York City now exceeding $4,600, the financial strain on young professionals is immense. This trend is reflected nationally, with about 1.5 million more adults under 35 living with their parents compared to a decade ago, often impacting parental finances.
A Father's "Passion Project" Solution
For Jamal Khadar, the choice was clear. "I've always wanted my daughters to move back home," he explained. In July, he began transforming the family home, investing an estimated $200,000 into the renovations.
The project turned an unfinished basement into a 1,100-square-foot luxury apartment for Jameelah, who works remotely as an advertising expert. Meanwhile, tech engineer Hameedah is temporarily in her childhood bedroom, awaiting the completion of her own 600-square-foot studio in a separate wing of the house.
The new units offer amenities far beyond what the sisters could afford in New York, including heated floors, a home cinema, a gym, a wet bar, and a recreation room.
Financial Freedom and Future Plans
The arrangement has provided immediate financial relief. "Not having to pay rent or electricity has been amazing," Hameedah told reporters. Jameelah has already saved roughly $10,000 and revels in her new disposable income. "I can travel, prioritize myself and really enjoy my 20s without having that heavy responsibility," she said.
This setup contrasts with the strain many parents report; studies show such living arrangements can reduce retirement savings and limit funds for other needs. However, the Khadar family has turned it into a strategic advantage. All four siblings, including their 23-year-old sister Memounah—who documented the build on TikTok—and an 18-year-old brother, contribute to household chores while saving to buy their own homes eventually.
"We're so grateful to our parents for giving us this opportunity to live at home and save money," Jameelah stated. "We would have been fine living in New York and paying high rent, but our parents want better for us. And we want more for ourselves in the future."
The online reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, with viewers praising Jamal's ingenuity and the family's supportive dynamic, highlighting a creative response to a widespread cost of living crisis.
