Couple saved $20,000 living in wife's parents' finished basement

Businessinsider reports that Caroline and Gabriel Navarrete, a newly married couple based in Maryland, have been living in Caroline's parents' finished basement and say the affordable rent helped them save $20,000 toward a home.

The Navarretes moved into the basement after Caroline's parents bought a larger house in 2021 and converted the lower level into an apartment. They paid $1,000 a month at first and lowered that to $500 after Caroline left her full-time job in fall 2025; they do not pay additional utility fees. Caroline's father upgraded the space — adding vinyl floors, Ikea cabinets, a refrigerator and dishwasher — but avoided installing a stove or oven because that would require separate permits in Maryland, so the couple uses an air fryer and an induction cooktop.

The couple, who have been together since 2019 and married in May 2024, say the arrangement has given them flexibility to buy furniture gradually and avoid some unexpected costs, and they hope to buy their own home by May 2026. The plan could change with Caroline's recent job shift and the housing market, and Caroline's parents may rent the basement or use it for her brother after the Navarretes move out.

Key Topics

Business, Caroline Navarrete, Gabriel Navarrete, Maryland, Finished Basement, Down Payment