Downsizing from 5000 to under 2000

[Anonymous]

I'd rent a place instead. Kids will probably be out of the house within 8 years, it will probably be cheaper than buying, and you won't pay much down much principal in 8 years anyway. Could do a nice apartment, entire house, or rowhome

[Anonymous]

Have you ever lived here before? If not, rent first. I can't imagine just looking at houses around here fro afar and deciding the place is the right fit with no experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is a twin?? Which neighborhood are we talking about?

We are in a 1600 sq ft rowhome with two kids. No basement. It’s what we know so it’s not a big deal to us. We’re very organized because we don’t really have the space to have stuff everywhere. Your kids are old enough to help out with this. We do spend a lot of time out of the house. COVID times were tough but we don’t work from home so much anymore so that’s been a relief in a way.

It’s obviously doable. People all over the world live in much smaller spaces. You just need to have less stuff. You’ll find you need less stuff, too.

So I disagree with you. First off - you have no kids. You have no idea what that's like!

When I was in my 20s I did the same as you - every move I tossed crap.

When you have a family and kids, ROFL. I have 2 and OP has 3. You need a bit of room.

People around the world actually aspire to having more room by the way. No sane person wants to be in a 1500 sq foot house with 3 kids. I'm not talking about being in a McMansion - of course you don't need 6 BR and 5000 sq ft. But that does not mean living in a shoe box makes you somehow more honorable or a better human lol.

You still need some room and in Europe by the way, they don't go shopping at Costco or have 50 different kinds of cereal at the store to choose. It's a totally different way of life and not comparable to life in an American suburb. We can't live like them and they don't need to live like us. So comparing our house to those who live around the world is just dumb. Apples to apples, you need a bit of room to be comfortable living in the US with 3 growing kids. These aren't babies - a teen boy isn't going to want to share a room with his MS sister - these are real considerations for OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever lived here before? If not, rent first. I can't imagine just looking at houses around here fro afar and deciding the place is the right fit with no experience.

She says she has two kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is a twin?? Which neighborhood are we talking about?

We are in a 1600 sq ft rowhome with two kids. No basement. It’s what we know so it’s not a big deal to us. We’re very organized because we don’t really have the space to have stuff everywhere. Your kids are old enough to help out with this. We do spend a lot of time out of the house. COVID times were tough but we don’t work from home so much anymore so that’s been a relief in a way.

It’s obviously doable. People all over the world live in much smaller spaces. You just need to have less stuff. You’ll find you need less stuff, too.

So I disagree with you. First off - you have no kids. You have no idea what that's like!

When I was in my 20s I did the same as you - every move I tossed crap.

When you have a family and kids, ROFL. I have 2 and OP has 3. You need a bit of room.

People around the world actually aspire to having more room by the way. No sane person wants to be in a 1500 sq foot house with 3 kids. I'm not talking about being in a McMansion - of course you don't need 6 BR and 5000 sq ft. But that does not mean living in a shoe box makes you somehow more honorable or a better human lol.

You still need some room and in Europe by the way, they don't go shopping at Costco or have 50 different kinds of cereal at the store to choose. It's a totally different way of life and not comparable to life in an American suburb. We can't live like them and they don't need to live like us. So comparing our house to those who live around the world is just dumb. Apples to apples, you need a bit of room to be comfortable living in the US with 3 growing kids. These aren't babies - a teen boy isn't going to want to share a room with his MS sister - these are real considerations for OP.

Sorry, meant to respond to this one.

She says she has two kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is a twin?? Which neighborhood are we talking about?

We are in a 1600 sq ft rowhome with two kids. No basement. It’s what we know so it’s not a big deal to us. We’re very organized because we don’t really have the space to have stuff everywhere. Your kids are old enough to help out with this. We do spend a lot of time out of the house. COVID times were tough but we don’t work from home so much anymore so that’s been a relief in a way.

It’s obviously doable. People all over the world live in much smaller spaces. You just need to have less stuff. You’ll find you need less stuff, too.

So I disagree with you. First off - you have no kids. You have no idea what that's like!

When I was in my 20s I did the same as you - every move I tossed crap.

When you have a family and kids, ROFL. I have 2 and OP has 3. You need a bit of room.

People around the world actually aspire to having more room by the way. No sane person wants to be in a 1500 sq foot house with 3 kids. I'm not talking about being in a McMansion - of course you don't need 6 BR and 5000 sq ft. But that does not mean living in a shoe box makes you somehow more honorable or a better human lol.

You still need some room and in Europe by the way, they don't go shopping at Costco or have 50 different kinds of cereal at the store to choose. It's a totally different way of life and not comparable to life in an American suburb. We can't live like them and they don't need to live like us. So comparing our house to those who live around the world is just dumb. Apples to apples, you need a bit of room to be comfortable living in the US with 3 growing kids. These aren't babies - a teen boy isn't going to want to share a room with his MS sister - these are real considerations for OP.

Amen, we are Americans. We need our space.

IMO if you have even 2 kids, you need 2,000 sq ft living space, above grade, MINIMUM.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you are reading these please check in again. I have a nice house in a close in suburb that i am considering renting instead of selling

[Anonymous]

I am pp. i raised three kids in my house. I would also consider selling. Good school district. Four bedrooms upstairs plus one in basement. What is your budget?

[Anonymous]

Usually the basement is not counted in square footage places here, so the houses may have more room than you think.

[Anonymous]

We’ve raised two kids from zero to college in a house with 1500 sf above ground. Five years ago, we dug out and finished the basement to give us another bathroom, bedroom, and family room. It is plenty of room, especially since we’re in central DC, where everyone is pretty much in the same boat.

We considered moving to the suburbs, or to more suburban parts of DC, a few times over the last 15 years. I’m so glad we didn’t do it. We’re a close family and our kids spend lots of time out doing stuff in the city, so we don’t feel cramped. Our first kid moved away for school this year and now our house feels a little big.

[Anonymous]

I had to google it but by twin I think you mean duplex?

What's your budget and where is/are the job(s)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is a twin?? Which neighborhood are we talking about?

We are in a 1600 sq ft rowhome with two kids. No basement. It’s what we know so it’s not a big deal to us. We’re very organized because we don’t really have the space to have stuff everywhere. Your kids are old enough to help out with this. We do spend a lot of time out of the house. COVID times were tough but we don’t work from home so much anymore so that’s been a relief in a way.

It’s obviously doable. People all over the world live in much smaller spaces. You just need to have less stuff. You’ll find you need less stuff, too.

So I disagree with you. First off - you have no kids. You have no idea what that's like!

When I was in my 20s I did the same as you - every move I tossed crap.

When you have a family and kids, ROFL. I have 2 and OP has 3. You need a bit of room.

People around the world actually aspire to having more room by the way. No sane person wants to be in a 1500 sq foot house with 3 kids. I'm not talking about being in a McMansion - of course you don't need 6 BR and 5000 sq ft. But that does not mean living in a shoe box makes you somehow more honorable or a better human lol.

You still need some room and in Europe by the way, they don't go shopping at Costco or have 50 different kinds of cereal at the store to choose. It's a totally different way of life and not comparable to life in an American suburb. We can't live like them and they don't need to live like us. So comparing our house to those who live around the world is just dumb. Apples to apples, you need a bit of room to be comfortable living in the US with 3 growing kids. These aren't babies - a teen boy isn't going to want to share a room with his MS sister - these are real considerations for OP.

Amen, we are Americans. We need our space.

IMO if you have even 2 kids, you need 2,000 sq ft living space, above grade, MINIMUM.

Oh for pete's sake. Plenty of people raise families in less that 2k sf. And no, it isn't awful and cramped. I have HS and college aged kids that I have raised in ~1800 sf. Have never felt that it was too small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Usually the basement is not counted in square footage places here, so the houses may have more room than you think.

My house is only 4,000 sf but I have a 2,000 sf finished basement and a 400 sf attached garage.

[Anonymous]

i recommend 1200-1800 sf per person living there full time, if you have guests another 500/sf per guest like parents etc for those staying less than a month

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i recommend 1200-1800 sf per person living there full time, if you have guests another 500/sf per guest like parents etc for those staying less than a month

That's exactly what we have. 👍🏻