Small families with big houses
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Anonymous
I fully expect my child to come back and live with me in my 900 square foot house so they can save money for general savings, retirement and to buy their own house. What is wrong with that. We will fully pay for college and graduate school. |
It's only bound to happen as prices for everything outpace incomes even from professional jobs. Young people entering workforce out of college are up for rude awakening after they get tired living with roomies in fun urban locations and start growing up. Even if parents help with downpayment, most of these kids would only be able to afford very basic small homes, so they might want to come back, lol
Anonymous
+1. 2 parents, 2 grandparents, 2 kids...1200 square feet and 1.5 bathrooms. |
Anonymous
How?? Did you have a basement? My 2/2 condo was 1100 sq ft. The kitchen was a galley. The family room was an okay size but not massive. The one bedroom was tiny- 10x10 and the other was bigger but not big. |
Anonymous
The oldest millennials were born in 81, so yes, the PP is one. |
Anonymous
Why would people pay so much money for older homes if new bigger homes are not that much more? And how do builders make money if older homes are selling just for a few hundred grand more? Something isn't the same here, I am guessing the old homes in the area with the new builds were much cheaper and smaller (think 1200 sq.ft ramber/cape cod on a postage stamp lot) for the builders to turn enough profit selling new construction for these prices. Maybe older homes are in better neighborhoods with bigger more scenic lots (at least one of them seems this way, it has nice private lot and views). I don't know anything about these areas in particular to comment. Even 5 min drive away there could be a different neighborhood vibe, different price points for older tear down, older remodeled, and new homes. Buying a brand new larger home with all modern luxury finishes in the exact same area with the same type of lot as the older renovated home with who knows what quality work sort of sounds like a miracle. |
Anonymous
I was referring to the huge homes occupied by families with just 1-3 kids. There is nothing wrong with multifamily households, it's just that when people think that all these spaces will go to waste with small families and especially when kids move out to college, they don't consider that these type of homes will make much more comfortable and livable multigenerational homes compared with older homes where people had to live with a lot more compromises. Your kid may not actually want to move back to your tiny home if being able to afford a decent condo or a small townhouse. But kids who grew up with much luxury in 6000+ sq.ft homes might find it a much more attractive option to move back compared with what they can afford. See what I mean? If your kid has a significant other or gets married sharing a 900 sq.ft house with parents isn't great QOL. |
Anonymous
Yeah, OK, this isn't what newer generation is accustomed to or aspires to at least in places outside of Manhattan or Silicon Valley. These days 1200 sq.ft outside of Manhattan/Bay Area is maybe only adequate dwelling for urban childless couples or recent immigrants from poorer countries. Sorry to make it so non-PC. DCUM crowd can't imagine making them work with kids unless they maybe live in Georgetown? 
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Anonymous
This was the point behind my original comment. People are criticizing folks for buying huge houses, but in many cases, it is actually the rational thing to do. The reason I can rattle off these examples is because this is the predicament I am finding myself in. I'd love a nice, older 2000-2500 sq ft home that has a few good sized bathrooms, decent closet space, and nicely proportioned rooms -- but every single time one of those rare gems has come onto the market, it has been bid up to $1.5 to $1.7. It seems like too many people are looking for the same thing as me. So I am probably going to end up buying a 4000 sq foot McMansion that costs about the same price, even though we really don't need or want that much space. |
Anonymous
That could be big or small. I grew up a 1,200 sf house six of us. But we had a 600 sf unfinished basement for storage and out washer/dryer and all mechanicals. We also had detached 200 sf garage and a driveway for cars. I own a 1,200 sf condo I rent and it is tight. No basement or garage storage, no yard to put stuff, no driveway for cars. Plus have to jam washer and dryer and electrical panel in living space. Six living there would be way too tight |
Anonymous
We are a family of 3 (2 kids) in a 1200 sf condo. We have an abundance of space because we are not pack rats. |
Anonymous
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I grew up six of us very small house. I shared a 10x11 bedroom. My wife the same.
My MIL small house is a headache for everyone. I live in DC her in NY. When I visit it is five kids and a dog. Her grandkids live in 4 different states. When Xmas comes she has to move furniture and house has no place to go. She insists you stay over but we only do one night as it is a burden to her and literally her house only has beds for four people. Her kids forced to move out young. One TV in living room with Dad in boxer shorts watching TV or sit in your 10x10 bedroom. My house a selling point to my wife was out 2,000 sf basement with two large bedrooms and a full bath with a big living area and big TV. I don’t use it now but when my kids are grown and moved away Xmas or thanksgiving my kids can come visit with family. My dining room easily could host a large amount of people, I also have five bedrooms upstairs. I also have a sofa bed. I can sleep 15 people in beds. Luckily my block is professionals and although houses all have 6-8 bedrooms we have no people renting out or multigenerational nonsense. I do fear if neighborhood slips having all that space could encourage people to crowd block. As of now all guest space. Most on block have out of state family. Every time I invite someone to my house for a party they stay over. I don’t have a single relative in the DMV. Nearly everyone on block grew up a different state. |
Anonymous
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People will justify the choices they made.
I grew up in a huge house with 9 bathrooms....2 kids and 2 parents. Family life centered around the kitchen. My parents used the living room and their bedroom, and the kids would hang out with friends in the main room of the basement. I did like the room with workout equipment in high school, and we had a pretty sunroom where I remember studying for exams some. But most of the rooms we didn't use, and I HATED having to stay there alone if my parents were out of town or out late. |
Anonymous
So your daughter or son having sex in your 900 sf house is cool? |
Anonymous
Good point on crowding when all these humongous homes become multifamily. Suburban streets aren't designed for a lot of cars to be parked there. It will get tight if cars are parked on both sides and unsafe to walk around. There are no sidewalks either. When things go multifamily or multigenerational you need functional wider roads with 2 lanes and sidewalks to allow for cars to be parked properly. |
Anonymous
Zoning won't allow SFH to be converted into MFH. |