Twins bought homes next door to each other to create a family compound and raise their kids together

Amelia and Sydney Stoker, twins, purchased two adjacent homes to create a multi-generational compound for their families to live close together. Both sisters, 39, intended to raise their children in the same city, inspired by their desire to have cousins around when they had kids. After finishing their orthodontics residencies in the Bay Area, they realized it was not feasible to live in the same city, but found a unique solution in buying adjacent homes.

Sydney and her husband, Adam Fagin, purchased a house where Sydney grew up, while Amelia and her husband, Paden Roder, bought a house next door. The houses have been connected by removing the fence between their backyards, turning the property into a single large lot. The families hired au pairs to help with childcare, which allows all seven adults to live on the property full-time. Everyone eats dinner together nightly, and each family takes turns cooking on specific days.

The advantages of living in a compound have been evident to both families. With full-time jobs, Amelia and Sydney appreciate having additional support, feeling that they could easily add another child to their households. They also have more free time, as there are always people around to help care for their children. The sisters are particularly grateful for the close relationships their nieces and nephews are developing, and their spouses enjoy seeing their extended families grow closer.