Houston home design - what the hell? (The Woodlands, Pearland: for sale, how much)

[robertpolyglot]

I have worked for several home builders.

I go on line to HAR.com and pull up 3+/2+ homes in West Houston, The Woodlands and Kingwood that were built within the last 10 years. They are spacious and a good value; however, I have YET to see a 1/2 bath ANYWHERE in a boatload of homes under $ 250,000. This is pretty much a standard thing out West and even in Atlanta or Charlotte. Now, mind you, it's not a dealbreaker at all, but it's nice to have a "powder room" for your "passing through" daytime guests so they don't have to get into the bathrooms that are meant for the master/secondary bedrooms.

Does anyone know the logic for NOT having 1/2 baths in 1,500 to 2,250 square feet newer homes? I fully understand that home design trends are regional.

[njcooper5]

Surprised to hear that 1/2 baths might not be common, and I've lived in NW Houston area for years. My house will be listed for sale during the next few days, and it does have a powder bath. Our house has 2 1/2 baths, and is located off of Barker Cypress just south of Hwy 290.

[tstone]

Could it have something to do with cost cutting? How much does it cost to plumb an extra toilet & sink, and add extra cabinets?

It could be the same reason it's hard to find homes in that price range with decent (energy efficient) windows.

[modster]

I find that odd. I grew up out in Klein and lived off 1960 for a few years. All the 70's- 80's era homes in the established neighborhoods like Ponderosa, Northampton, Wimbledon, Greenwood, Champion Forest, Memorial NW, etc. had half baths, usually off the utility room.

These are usually homes that are a minimum of 2400 sq ft. though.

You might want to expand you search to a little older housing stock and see what other options come up.

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by tstone

Could it have something to do with cost cutting? How much does it cost to plumb an extra toilet & sink, and add extra cabinets?

Not a lot if it's done in a shared plumbing wall with one of the secondaries, for example. We're just talking about 2 more stubs and throwing in a base cabinet and a mirror. And it makes a world of difference.

In any home, or townhome, we did which exceeded 1,500 or 1,600 sf, in goes the half bath. they consume about 40 sf of the house (like 5 feet x 8 feet)...i.e. most secondary baths are 5'0" wide, because that's the largest dimension of the prefab. fiberglass tub/shower surround.

As for position, they are typically up front in the home. Near the entry, but tucked away such that a guest could use it yet have the door be a little remote. It would not be near the utility room unless that were behind the garage, which could then mean that a half bath is toward the front of the home and near the "public" spaces.

[modster]

What is the price range of these houses? In Houston, at least in the suburbs/exurbs, it seems like a neighborhood of 1500 - 2200 sq ft homes would be considered a low-cost starter neighborhood. You can buy an obnoxiously big resale home for under $250,000 in Katy, Champions area, Cypress, Pearland, etc.

I really don't know, I'm just asking. If these are homes cranked out as "entry level" product then it may be one of their cost cutting methods even though I don't see it being that big a savings at all.

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by modster

What is the price range of these houses? In Houston, at least in the suburbs/exurbs, it seems like a neighborhood of 1500 - 2200 sq ft homes would be considered a low-cost starter neighborhood. You can buy an obnoxiously big resale home for under $250,000 in Katy, Champions area, Cypress, Pearland, etc.

I really don't know, I'm just asking. If these are homes cranked out as "entry level" product then it may be one of their cost cutting methods even though I don't see it being that big a savings at all.

179 K to 209 K, approx 1700 to 2100 sf, single story and in Kingwood, The Woodlands, Cleark Lake...all built about 5 to 10 years ago, so not too old.

I was thinking that the ranch floor plan could have been part of it. The powder must be there if all bedrooms are upstairs. I suppose they feel a guest can go into the hall that leads to the bedrooms and use that bath. I prefer they didn't, that way I could keep a 1/2 bath in ultra-clean condition for the guests when mine is in need of cleaning.

I prefer not to have anything over 2,000 feet. I actually prefer 1700 to 1800. I don't need any more room than that, nor have any desire to fuss after it. After all the talk of humidity, a pool might be nice...LOL...

[texas7]

You tend to see the 1/2 baths only in multiple story homes. 1 stories are usually full baths.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

179 K to 209 K, approx 1700 to 2100 sf, single story and in Kingwood, The Woodlands, Cleark Lake...all built about 5 to 10 years ago, so not too old.

That sounds like our house ... 2200 sq ft and in that price range (Clear Lake). 12 yr old house, 4/2/2. The ones with guest baths in this neighborhood are the largest models: 2600-2700 sq ft and they are 2 bedroom. I guess the trend has been going on for some time now. Interesting, never really thought about it. A little bath for guests to destroy (vs. the main bath) would be a good thing to have.

[chris_ut]

I just bought in Kingwood, 2 1/2 baths. 1/2 baths seems fairly common on Meritage floorplans.