should we buy a cramped but otherwise nice house because there's no inventory?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would just stretch and buy at a higher level because prices are going up for at least 5 years.

Analysis? Low rates? Hedge funds exit plan?

[Anonymous]

We've been in our 1100 sq foot house for 4 years and have two boys (ages 4 and 2.5) and it is working well for us. We finished the basement which makes a great playroom and we have good storage in the attic and the unfinished part of the basement. We are also lucky to have a large deck and patio with plenty of space for kids' toys so we really use the outdoors as an extension of our living space. The only times the house feels too small is when we have a lot of family over for a holiday meal but since that doesn't happen very often we are really happy with the space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've been in our 1100 sq foot house for 4 years and have two boys (ages 4 and 2.5) and it is working well for us. We finished the basement which makes a great playroom and we have good storage in the attic and the unfinished part of the basement. We are also lucky to have a large deck and patio with plenty of space for kids' toys so we really use the outdoors as an extension of our living space. The only times the house feels too small is when we have a lot of family over for a holiday meal but since that doesn't happen very often we are really happy with the space.

I'm the first 1300 sq ft poster - same experience as PP with holidays. That is our only time when we feel really that it's too small. But the other 363 days of the year are great.

[Anonymous]

Not to get too off-topic, but do you PPs really only have family over to your homes twice a year? That's sad

[Anonymous]

We have a large number of extended family members (from both sides, with step grandparents, etc) over to our house only a couple times per year. We do entertain smaller groups throughout the year. Or go to someone else's house - we rotate hosting for some holidays.

Do you have everyone over for every single holiday? That must be exhausting!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not to get too off-topic, but do you PPs really only have family over to your homes twice a year? That's sad

maybe their families are from out of town.

also--if they are like my family---we rotate Holidays---my sister hosts Thanksgiving, parents Xmas Eve, I do Easter, spring/summer holidays outside. We also don't have everyone together except for major Holidays--e.g., brother lives in NYC--will usu. come at Xmas and Tgiving--but not Easter, etc. I see my family a LOT--but my parents come to grandkids sporting events, we eat out, sometimes its just them, sometimes my sister and her family comes, etc. I think the ENTIRE family is what they are getting at--for some people that is a very large crowd if cousins, aunts/uncles, nephews, nieces, siblings, grandparents, etc are in the area--then yes it is a few times per year.

Geesh.

[Anonymous]

It's not sad at all - lighten up!

I'm the PP with the 1100 sq ft house. Our closest family lives in NJ and we have immediate family (parents and siblings and their kids) in NJ, FL, WI and TX. Between all of them - we are probably hosting family once every 6-8 weeks for a week long visit but it is only a couple of times of year when everyone gets together at the same time - and it's not always here - sometimes other family members host.