Father Builds Custom Apartment for Daughters
Jamal Kadar, a devoted father and husband, is determined to provide the best for his four children. Recently, he made a significant investment of around $200,000 to create a custom living space for his two eldest daughters, Jameela, 27, and Hameeda, 26, in their expansive 2,600-square-foot home in Potomac, Maryland. This decision aims to help them sidestep the steep rent prices found in New York City.
After discovering that Jameela was paying $2,200 monthly for a three-bedroom apartment in Cobble Hill, and that Hameeda’s studio in downtown Brooklyn cost over $2,800, Jamal, the owner of Katraco LLC, felt the need to act. “The choice was clear to me,” he reflected. “I’ve always wanted my daughters to come home.”
In July, he embarked on a “passion project” to transform his house, starting with the basement to create a personal retreat for Jameela. “We renovated the lower level from an unfinished space to a luxurious 1,100-square-foot one-bedroom apartment, complete with a bathroom featuring heated floors, a media room, gym, wet bar, and recreation room,” said Jamal.
Jameela, who has a keen eye for design, meticulously chose marble tiles, wooden finishes, and elegant furniture for her new space. Meanwhile, Hameeda gets a private section of the house, a generous 600-square-foot studio equipped with its own bathroom and kitchenette. Jamal went the extra mile to make sure it looks good with a stylish bathroom, bedroom, and lounge area.
He also plans to build a two-car garage for his daughters and is fully devoted, spending much of his free time working on the renovations. “Before we started all this, the house was 2,600 square feet, and now it’s about 4,500 square feet,” Jamal noted.
The renovations are in progress, and Hameeda will stay in her childhood room until her new space is ready, expected by early 2026. She mentioned, “It’s great not having to pay rent or electricity.” Living at home to save costs is familiar territory for many in her generation.
Amid rising living costs, particularly in New York, where average monthly rent now exceeds $4,600, more adults under 35 are opting to live with their parents. According to recent studies, many parents find this trend burdensome; about 38% report a decrease in retirement savings, while 39% feel it hampers their ability to plan for short-term goals like travel.
However, Hameeda expressed that her parents see her and Jameela returning home as a positive development. “I moved to New York right after college, and I’ve been wanting to come back,” she shared, having spent two years in the city, while Jameela has been there for four.
This fall, the sisters officially left New York behind. Jameela, who works remotely as an advertising specialist, stated, “You don’t have to be in the city,” emphasizing the importance of considering one’s future. “If you can save money, you should.”
Since relocating in September, Jameela has enjoyed greater financial freedom, leveraging her savings of nearly $10,000. “It’s great not having to pay rent. I have so much disposable income,” she expressed, recognizing the freedom it affords her to travel and focus on her personal goals.
Hameeda, who also works from home, concurs. “It didn’t make sense to pay rent while I was hardly ever there,” she noted. Their youngest sister, Memona, recently graduated from Boston University and moved back home, contributing to the family unit’s needs.
Memona shared their journey on social media, inspiring many viewers to reconsider their living situations. “A lot resonated with it,” she said. “And that’s the best part of sharing our family’s story: it can inspire others.”
Together, the three sisters and their younger brother Yusuf, 18, are pooling resources and planning for their futures, all while expressing gratitude for the chance to save money at home. “We could have lived in New York and paid high rent, but my parents want more for us,” Jameela concluded. “And we want more for ourselves in the future.”
