How much square footage would you want for a family of five?

[Anonymous]

We have three boys, ages 7 - 12 and are currently living in a 1600 s.f. 3 BR 2 BA house. We are feeling more and more cramped as the boys get older. How much square footage would you have in your ideal home?

[Anonymous]

2500

[Anonymous]

Younger kids here (2 through 5) but we moved a few months ago from a townhouse with 1400 sq ft to a house with 2500 sq ft. We were majorly cramped before, and now we have space we don't even use regularly.

[Anonymous]

I would be happy with 2000 if it were laid out well (good flow with no wasted space).

[Anonymous]

At least 2500 sq. ft. We have that much with a family of 4, including 2 teenagers, and one more child would make us feel a little cramped. When their friends are over I wish we had a much bigger house!

[Anonymous]

3500

[Anonymous]

2000-2500, plus a finished basement

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2000-2500, plus a finished basement

Yes, the finished basement really becomes a must.

[Anonymous]

5,000 and finished basement, if you can pay for maid service.

[Anonymous]

3500. We have a family of four (two boys) living in 2800 sq ft, a little over 3000 if you count the basement.

[Anonymous]

I think, for close-in DC, 2000 sq ft plus a finished basement is reasonable for an upper-middle class family with 3 boys. Agree with PP that a lot has to do with well-designed spaces and flow. (Those who need 2500 sq ft + need to expose themselves to better architectural design and get acquainted with urban residential reality.)

3000 sq ft+ is really for people who either have a lot of $$$ and can afford large homes close-in, or who are willing to spend more time on commute. On the latter, I would take into consideration--as your boys get older--the fact that they will have to DRIVE if you want more space vs urban location. Do you really want your high school boys spending that much time on the road just to see friends and get to school/activities? There's a good reason why car insurance rates are highest for teenage boys--they are the most likely to get into fatal car crashes. And, when you add another teenage passenger to the car, statistics show that the rates for car accidents for teen drives increases dramatically. No, thank you.

[Anonymous]

We have about 3000 square feet in a slit level inside the beltway. Our basement is not finished but on our lower level, we have a family room, full bath and our au pair's bedroom. Mour unfinished basement has most of the toys, laundry, workout equipment, storage, etc.

We have 2 kids and an au pair, so we're a family of 5 but only 2 are children. I think we have plenty of space. We lied in about 2000 square feet previously as a family of 5 and it was doable but a little tight. Based on my experience, I'd say 2500-3000 is perfect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think, for close-in DC, 2000 sq ft plus a finished basement is reasonable for an upper-middle class family with 3 boys. Agree with PP that a lot has to do with well-designed spaces and flow. (Those who need 2500 sq ft + need to expose themselves to better architectural design and get acquainted with urban residential reality.)

3000 sq ft+ is really for people who either have a lot of $$$ and can afford large homes close-in, or who are willing to spend more time on commute. On the latter, I would take into consideration--as your boys get older--the fact that they will have to DRIVE if you want more space vs urban location. Do you really want your high school boys spending that much time on the road just to see friends and get to school/activities? There's a good reason why car insurance rates are highest for teenage boys--they are the most likely to get into fatal car crashes. And, when you add another teenage passenger to the car, statistics show that the rates for car accidents for teen drives increases dramatically. No, thank you.

I like to drive and consider it an essential skill. We insisted that our DS get his license before graduating from HS. He does not drive as much as we did when we were his age (there's this thing called social media), but I find this fear-mongering ridiculous (and simply the urban retort to those who warn people away from urban neighborhoods because of crime, etc.). He can decide later whether he prefers to live in areas where he will need to drive or where he can rely on public transportation.

I've read the posts from those who extol how great it is when kids can walk or take Metro to see their friends. Having seen drunk, stoned teenagers, who presumably weren't worried about driving, stumbling around Bethesda on weekends, that's not always so great, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think, for close-in DC, 2000 sq ft plus a finished basement is reasonable for an upper-middle class family with 3 boys. Agree with PP that a lot has to do with well-designed spaces and flow. (Those who need 2500 sq ft + need to expose themselves to better architectural design and get acquainted with urban residential reality.)

3000 sq ft+ is really for people who either have a lot of $$$ and can afford large homes close-in, or who are willing to spend more time on commute. On the latter, I would take into consideration--as your boys get older--the fact that they will have to DRIVE if you want more space vs urban location. Do you really want your high school boys spending that much time on the road just to see friends and get to school/activities? There's a good reason why car insurance rates are highest for teenage boys--they are the most likely to get into fatal car crashes. And, when you add another teenage passenger to the car, statistics show that the rates for car accidents for teen drives increases dramatically. No, thank you.

I like to drive and consider it an essential skill. We insisted that our DS get his license before graduating from HS. He does not drive as much as we did when we were his age (there's this thing called social media), but I find this fear-mongering ridiculous (and simply the urban retort to those who warn people away from urban neighborhoods because of crime, etc.). He can decide later whether he prefers to live in areas where he will need to drive or where he can rely on public transportation.

I've read the posts from those who extol how great it is when kids can walk or take Metro to see their friends. Having seen drunk, stoned teenagers, who presumably weren't worried about driving, stumbling around Bethesda on weekends, that's not always so great, either.

This is NOT fear mongering. Fear-mongering is not letting your 15 year old ride the Metro. As I stated in my previous post, there is a reason why insurance companies, who hire actuaries to calculate risks, charge a premium for teenage male-drivers. The suburban kids who are getting killed in driving accidents are accident prone more so than urban kids because they drive more and because it's easier to drive suburban stretches of road at high speed. It is simply not debatable that taking Metro or hailing a cab is safer if your kid is high or drunk, than driving or getting into a car with another teenager. I agree that learning how to drive (under multiple conditions) is an important skill, but one that can be taught not the hard way.

[Anonymous]

3000 SQRFT is still a bit small i would say 3500-4000