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we went from a 1500sq ft ranch with a full basement( total 3000sq ft) to a 1200 sq ft ranch with about 800 sq ft basement (total 2000sq ft). I like the smaller space better. I can really clean top to bottom in about 2 hours! Our bills are about 1/2 and we no longer own a storage space for relatives who don't have enough space to keep their crap and so they brought it to us! The first place was about 1000 sq ft too much. We do have to make decisions here...but I like the challenge! I never want to be over run by stuff - mine or others again!
I also was not happy about all the hall ways the first house had. This layout has no hallways so every nook is used! it took having the bigger one to downsizing to realize for us smaller IS better...but if we had children, well I just dont know how families used to do it! I should add! 2 bathrooms! I will never own a house with just 1 bathroom again!
This is a personal thing. I lived in 3000 sq ft house before and I loved it. It was just me and DH and I swear it seems like my house stayed much cleaner than our current one, although our utility bill was crazy. Now we live in a 1500 sq ft house and it feels claustrophobic and I hate it. I agree you should visit the house and look at the layout. I've seen some 1200 sq ft houses with 5 bedrooms, a king size bed would have probably take up an entire bedroom so there would be no space for a dresser.
Yeah, echoing the others that have said it's simply a personal thing. For me, the husband and our pets 2bd/2bath ~1000 sq ft works great. Ideally, I'd bump up the footage a bit, keep it at 2bd/2bath but increase the kitchen size, the bathroom sizes and the closet sizes. It helps that it's fairly open with a living/dining great-room combo with a large pass through to the kitchen.
Just really wouldn't want too much more for upkeep purposes.
If the market in your area is either a buyers' market or balanced, then you have plenty of time to look and look again. (If it is sellers' market, then you will be unhappy)
1. Location is very important. Good schools increase value. Quiet neighborhood increases value.
2. You cannot easily change your mind. Transaction costs of selling are approximately 7-10%.
3. Layout is more important than sqft. Newer houses will typically have more useable space. But, you can always buy an older home and rearrange the walls. See #1 above.
4. The larger the lot, the more upkeep. The larger the house, the more upkeep.
5. Stay within your budget. Financial health impacts everything.
6. Take pictures and notes. All the houses will begin to blend into a giant swamp in your brain.
The size is personal preference, however I would suggest having two bathrooms on your wish list.
I agree. 2 Bathrooms was a MUST for our forever home as it makes it easier when we have guests (and for as our family grows). We ended up with 3 (a 3rd in the finished basement area) but 2 was definitely our minimum requirement!
P.S. I just saw that the OP later mentioned that they were looking for 0.5 acre plus. Our house is on 0.5 acre and change, yet we still got a suburban, modestly sized house- so they're definitely out there!
I have two close relatives that have homes that are 11K and 14K sq ft respectively. Both are homes to a married couple, one has a couple dogs. Both homes are for sale (9mm and 3mm), both are looking to downsize to something more manageable like 5,000.....
Actually the cost to own is killing them, taxes/insurance/upkeep.....they no longer want to commit the time/resources to the homes.
You can buy a house for under 15k??? What state are you in. I'll go buy a few and turn them into rentals.
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Think and think again
