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Define the term affordable. Just because you can't afford it doesn't mean other people can't.
Try to stay focused...we are talking about subdivisions. I can more than afford a custom home if I was in the market for one. If you look at the homes being built in these subdivisons, many start in the low 100's to mid 200's, 1500sf to 3000sf. Now tell me where you can find a house of your specifications (custom, not stick built), with the square feet people are looking for in that price range, being built on a pace that they are being built by the major companies.
Let us know where they are building homes that are affordable like the ones you mentioned. Although some of these older homes are available on the market, there are not enough of them for the growth that is expected in the Upstate.
There are historic neighborhoods everywhere just waiting for revitalization. People need to buy these homes and invest their cash into contractors who will restore them, instead of spending the same amount of cash on creating subdivision sprawl.
the perplexing thing to me in suburban america is that it seems like many people are drawn to crappy lots, poor planning, narrow roads, minimum build quality, and low-end finishes as long as they can have that 3,000+ft² house, of which they rarely use a large percentage. The house I sold when I moved had an 18x14 master bedroom. We both have a lot of clothes, and between the closet and the bedroom we had room for all of our stuff with plenty of room around the dressers and other furniture. We had a chair in the corner for reading and a wall-mounted bookshelf with a desk area for working/reading.It was a nice Master. Spacious without wasted space.
Yet, several people commented the Master was too small during showings. I think it's a southern mindset, where people are just used to low cost of housing and thus are used to having large houses vs what's really functional for every day living. As a result, they say 'why spend X on 1800 ft² on this older home when I can spend X on 3000 ft² here!'. So yes, if you want 3000ft², you're going to pay an arm and a leg to get that in an older house downtown. But does everyone really need all that space?
There are historic neighborhoods everywhere just waiting for revitalization. People need to buy these homes and invest their cash into contractors who will restore them, instead of spending the same amount of cash on creating subdivision sprawl.
I can see the value of buying a 'finished house' instead of upending your life with endless renovation, dealing with contractors, and the inevitable heartbreak of at least one of the projects.
But I'm also surprised that existing cleared and platted land isn't built out further before bulldozing a large adjoining area.
Two or three years ago i was flying back into GSP and I was amazed at all the unfinished developments below.
Why would builders even consider building new houses in new subdivisions when the old ones aren't full?
Why would home buyers even consider buying homes in brand new empty subdivisions when there are so many 5-6 year old subdivisions still half empty?
Exactly that is what I am wondering. I mean we have them that are over 8 years old off of Lee Vaughn barely filled and everything being build is essentially the same price range on 0.18 acre lots. Our lots were build with normal foundations and keeping trees reasonably intact but they just bulldoze EVERYTHING.
There are tons of homes being built that's for sure. I think people just want to buy a brand new house that's just as expensive ,if not cheaper, than an older one. I looked at the subdivisions planned and there are some that have hundreds of lots. Right now, there is land being cleared for 83 lots near Southside Christian and 61 lots across from Five Forks Plantation.
Last edited by Sillymiller123; 04-26-2016 at 01:48 PM..
I agree about buying a new home. You can build it the way you like. What I don't agree with is how new builders bulldoze the entire subdivision without leaving trees and 0 lot lines. I'd much rather build or buy in a historic area if I could afford it.
Jamecita hit the nail on the head. People think they need all this room to live when they really don't. We aren't a very social culture anymore because when we get off work we go back to our McMansions and stay. Not meet friends for dinner or take the kids to the park.
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