What is the story on 1 car garages?

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by livecontent

It will come to the time when people will not own two or more big cars. If they do have more than one--it will be smaller cars---which take less space and a single car garage may hold two or more of them.

Would it not be nice, if we had no need for a garage--because we will need no cars. Garage conversions will come the rage. Oh, would it not be nice....

actualy the trend is going with more. We have noticed in the past 6 years, standard higher end homes went from 2-3 car garages. to 4+ car garages. This is usualy followed by the mid to low price point homes doing the same.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by Noahma

actualy the trend is going with more. We have noticed in the past 6 years, standard higher end homes went from 2-3 car garages. to 4+ car garages. This is usualy followed by the mid to low price point homes doing the same.

Yes you are so right. That is what is happening in many homes. But I wish it was not so. However, there is hope on the horizon, there are condominium communities being built in cities that have no garages where there is good public transportation. These are in dense areas of cities, where many people do not own cars and the property is extremely expensive that to reduce cost, funds are going into increased living space and/or more units, garages will not be built.

I lived and worked in NYC and I did not own a car and most people I knew in Manhattan did not own a car, nor had they room to garage a car. The TV show Seinfeld was a good example of that type of lifestyle. Many people in cities do more walking then people in the Suburbs. Believe it or not, neighborhoods in NYC became like small towns. In addition, I lived in a large city in Europe and the same was true.

In addition, there are homes being built, single and condos, that are in special areas of cities where mass transit is readily available and the family is able to afford a larger home with less income because car costs are not a part of fixed expenses. These areas are special mortgage districts.

There is a growing market for people who do not own a car because of disability, age, income, and/or no need and/or no desire and want housing and mortgage financing to reflect there situation.

I know that Denver is one of the cities leading the way into the future with the massive funding of Fastracks. It is the largest build out of public transportation in the nation and we have the intelligence of the Colorado people to thank. We will see some of these transit oriented developments I am talking about.

[sberdrow]

If you hope to sell your house for actual value you better have a two or more car garage. Who has one car: Single folks, who generally don't buy 3 bedroom homes, Senior citizens who can drive...they choose apartments usually, or Manufactured homes or condos. Students, or young people who either live in the dorm or apartments. Less privilaged (poor) people maybe, but they can't afford to give you full value. I am a licensed real estate agent. I know what Im talking about.

[kwk722]

Originally Posted by vfrpilot

Not for me. I love cars. My dream home comes with an attached plane hanger. Big enough for a bunch of cars and maybe a plane or 2.

I agree. Jay Leno's style for me!

I dont see less garages in the future, but it would be nice to have less traffic while I drive.

[bouldergranola]

Originally Posted by sberdrow

If you hope to sell your house for actual value you better have a two or more car garage.

Have you been to Boulder? Maybe these folks should reduce their asking price to compensate for that single car garage.

[gpraceman]

Originally Posted by kwk722

I dont see less garages in the future, but it would be nice to have less traffic while I drive.

I'd agree on the garage size. I doubt that one car garages will ever become the usual again. People use their garages for more than just parking cars. You got to have a place to put the bikes, mower, tools, and so on. Nature abhors a vacuum, so they always seem to get filled to the brim. Some people park their cars on the driveway, since they have their garages crammed with so much stuff.

I have a 4 car garage and that is not to say that I have a lot of cars nor live in an upper crust neighborhood where you might expect to find one that size. I have managed to fill it up with 2 cars, a pop-up trailer, all of my tools, workbench, lawn mower, bikes, garden tools, snow thrower, camping gear, and so on. Looks like it's time for a bigger garage.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by sberdrow

If you hope to sell your house for actual value you better have a two or more car garage. Who has one car: Single folks, who generally don't buy 3 bedroom homes, Senior citizens who can drive...they choose apartments usually, or Manufactured homes or condos. Students, or young people who either live in the dorm or apartments. Less privilaged (poor) people maybe, but they can't afford to give you full value. I am a licensed real estate agent. I know what Im talking about.

Your suggestion is good but does not apply to all situations. I am referring to are homes, condominiums housing and single family housing in denser developments of new urban cities. Certainly, redevelopment of older homes in gentrification neighborhoods would not all have garages and if so, single garages would be predominate. Single homes and row homes in these areas do appeal to certain type of people where the concept of transportation is built around public transportation, walking and bicycling in self contained urban neighborhoods.

We need to look at different housing arrangements for all people--not all of us, want or need multiple cars. There is a big movement in this cities in this country to create a concept of nice acceptable housing that is more sensible economically and environmentally maintainable. To continue in mass development of bigger homes with bigger garages creates a stress that is not sustainable.

Look around Denver and you will see the movement from Downtown Denver to Transportation Oriented Development (TOD) in the suburb from Old town Arvada, Englewood and to developments near the Lincoln Light Rail Station in Lone Tree. There are many more, you just have to see.