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.
i'm not in NJ, but the same trend is occurring here in Cincinnati and throughout the country. Younger families just don't want the mcmansion. And, the retirees who end up with giant houses after the kids leave the nest end up not wanting them either... Wife and I just bought our first house. It is a 1915 craftsman bungalow - 1600 square feet with a 600 square foot finished basement. It isn't mega-efficient in terms of layout (the dining room is very big by today's standards) - but I don't see ever needing much more space.
I lived in a 700 sq foot apt for 16 years and now live in a 4k sq foot house. I could never imagine going back to a crowded space. I love having the room and more importantly so do my wife and kids. Having guests or hosting Holidays is never a problem. Also, when in-laws come over, don't underestimate the benefit of having a little more "buffer space."
artDDS - good point. it is nice to have the space when you have guests especially! i think it is important to live some place that works for us and that we enjoy
I'm in a very large but OLD house (5000 sf), built back when they knew how to build them in proportion to the land around them. I have no problem with large houses if they FIT in the landscape. It's the huge house on a block or street of moderately sized homes that sticks out like a sore thumb. We have almost two acres and our house fits very nicely on the block.
I'm around 3,000 sq ft and I think it's a little too large. BUT when the kids are home from college and the MIL and other family members stay over it's just what the doctor ordered. IMPO a Mcmansion is over 5,000 feet.
530 square feet (but I'm not in NJ). It's just fine for me, and not terribly uncommon for where I live. One thing that'd be nice would be a second bedroom, but if I ever add that on I'd keep its size in proportion with the rest of the house and could still keep it under 700 total. I like that it's easy to clean, affordable to heat and electrify, and that when I do things like replace flooring or counters, it's not very expensive at all.
530 square feet (but I'm not in NJ). It's just fine for me, and not terribly uncommon for where I live. One thing that'd be nice would be a second bedroom, but if I ever add that on I'd keep its size in proportion with the rest of the house and could still keep it under 700 total. I like that it's easy to clean, affordable to heat and electrify, and that when I do things like replace flooring or counters, it's not very expensive at all.
a nice summary of the benefits of small-space living. usually the hardest thing is guests. but you quickly learn what you need and what you don't. and there is no reason your small kitchen table can't double for a food prep area, etc. when i lived overseas, a family of 3 or 4 having anything more than 750 square feet was unheard of.
btw - that was the first i have ever heard of someone "electrifying" their house
1800 sf which for just hubbie & I now is too big..I'd like to get down to about 1200
i'm in about 1800 sf with wife and large dog. kid on the way. i'm happy with the size of our house for the next 10 years. but it's too much house at the moment. we were shopping for a smaller starter home that we'd look to move from in 5-7 years, and stumbled upon one we can stay in for much longer and only slightly more than we planned on spending. so we're in a good spot.
My ideal home size is 4BR, 2+Baths around 2000 or so sf. Small lot would be perfect since I hate yard work. A nice finished basement as my home theater room is all I need.
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.
