Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Just find a plot and build one. Nobody is stopping you.
I prefer older homes with charm and character....I am particularly fond of the vintage green, blue, and pink tiled retro bathrooms found in the homes of the 1950s-early 60s era....
So I hope to find a house from that era that is also in this size range (Under 1000 sq feet)
I was simply curious why it seems that this size range (under 1000 sq feet) is not a widely offered option for new home construction today...as it once was in the 1950s/60s!!
To be clear I am talking about tract home housing developments....I understand that anyone can go custom if they have land out in the country for example!
I think that the concept of a "starter home" needs to be brought back in the field of new home construction!!
Not everyone wants or needs a big home!!
I for one....want a smaller home...as it is less to heat/cool!!!
I have other reasons as well....for my size prefrence....but utility management is certainly one important reason!
Just find a plot and build one. Nobody is stopping you.
It ain’t that easy! As a matter of fact- it’s damn near impossible! As I mentioned in my previous post, AHJ’s will usually require a minimum sq/ft. Now what that sq/ft is, is totally based on whatever the zoning committee has established for that district/town/city/county.
There is the possibility of a variance… would cost a lot of time AND money. The other option, move to an area that has no permit policy- there you could most likely build whatever you want- regardless of size (maybe)!
It ALL boils down to the almighty dollar! Well, the not so mighty dollar today!!!
I think there definitely is the appearance of a movement out there to downsize... The fad of "tiny homes" and "Auxiliary Dwelling Units" formerly known as Mother-in-law apartments are a testament to this. Lots of lip service given to less consumption, less "stuff", less waste. Greener living.
What I find interesting is that the people who might find smaller homes a cute idea seem to forget this when we start looking at actual homes on the market.
I have a hard time trying to show young buyers anything that doesn't have a master bathroom. The starter ranch home many of us grew up in, with one shared bathroom in the hall and no master bath will sit on the market unloved while my millennial and younger clients complain they can't find homes they can afford.
I understand the love of master baths - but should it be a dealbreaker for young couple who doesn't yet have kids, or who have kids who are still small? When I tell them that my hubby and I both grew up in homes with multiple kids and one shared full bathroom, most of these clients look at me like I have two heads.
And I noticed recently that this has even spilled over into the Recreational Vehicle market. We're looking at and comparing motorhomes and fifth-wheels to retire into when we decide we don't want to keep up a big farm any more. We want to downsize and travel for once! But I am surprised to see motorhomes with TWO bathrooms. IMHO, two bathrooms in a 30-foot motorhome that only my hubby and I will be living in, is huge waste of space! An RV should have one good bathroom, we don't need two. But someone must have demanded this.
It ain’t that easy! As a matter of fact- it’s damn near impossible! As I mentioned in my previous post, AHJ’s will usually require a minimum sq/ft. Now what that sq/ft is, is totally based on whatever the zoning committee has established for that district/town/city/county.
There is the possibility of a variance… would cost a lot of time AND money. The other option, move to an area that has no permit policy- there you could most likely build whatever you want- regardless of size (maybe)!
It ALL boils down to the almighty dollar! Well, the not so mighty dollar today!!!
Somewhere in the big ole' country I bet he could do it. Nobody said it wouldn't have challenges, but it can get done. More than a few places.
I was simply curious why it seems that this size range (under 1000 sq feet) is not a widely offered option for new home construction today...as it once was in the 1950s/60s!!
I for one....want a smaller home...as it is less to heat/cool!!!
I have other reasons as well....for my size prefrence....but utility management is certainly one important reason!
The smaller size range home is being built as townhomes/condos/co-ops.
It ain’t that easy! As a matter of fact- it’s damn near impossible! As I mentioned in my previous post, AHJ’s will usually require a minimum sq/ft. Now what that sq/ft is, is totally based on whatever the zoning committee has established for that district/town/city/county.
There is the possibility of a variance… would cost a lot of time AND money. The other option, move to an area that has no permit policy- there you could most likely build whatever you want- regardless of size (maybe)!
It ALL boils down to the almighty dollar! Well, the not so mighty dollar today!!!
Again, please list where, other than maybe HOAs or PUDs, there are minimum size limits.
I was involved for decades with development and zoning as an elected official and the only size limits I saw imposed by local governments was for maximum size, usually due to environmental reasons (runoff, greenspace, impervious surfaces, etc.) and those were more site specific rather than an actual set number for everyone.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
