I'm in Bethesda and most of the houses in my neighborhood have 1 car garages. We don't put a car in ours because we use it for bike storage and garden tools, and the same is true for many of our neighbors. We do park one car in the driveway and can put 3 in the driveway when there is a snowstorm. So a one car garage is fine where we are and houses go for $1.5-$2.5m.

Anonymous wrote:Garages are a huge amenity for most people, hence 3, 4, and 5 car garages in new, larger builds. Nobody ever says they wished they had less garage space. If you buy a house with no garage, or with a 1-car garage, do so knowing it will limit the utility and appeal of the property in the future.

It depends on where you are geographically and the norm for the neighborhood. I live outside of NYC and many older homes in my area that go for $2M or just under have small garages that could fit a compact car but just barely. In this instance a garage is a place to store bikes, shovels, strollers, gardening equipment, etc.

Man cave!

Anonymous wrote:Ok I drove by again today and although the garage isn’t really two car (because you can’t open doors), the driveway does have room for a second car without obstructing exit of the first. But still. How much of an issue is this for people? Note there are two enormous pine trees growing beside the driveway.

So it's technically two-car, but how garages get used changes over time, there's no problem. My house has a garage we don't use, the driveway holds two cars, if there were nothing along the interior walls (including the removal of some built-in cabinets), maybe two cars could fit. But previous owner used it as an art studio, and put in a terracotta floor. We pulled a car in once to make way for company, and it just feels stupid, like why is there a car in the room? It still gets listed as a garage, not living space, anybody who views can decide for themselves. Our only weather issue is UV damage in the afternoon sun.

Anonymous wrote:Ok I drove by again today and although the garage isn’t really two car (because you can’t open doors), the driveway does have room for a second car without obstructing exit of the first. But still. How much of an issue is this for people? Note there are two enormous pine trees growing beside the driveway.

OP only you can answer this. Some people do not find this arrangement to be an issue. Others want more garage space. You can't please everyone, or even a majority.

The answer lies within.

Ok I drove by again today and although the garage isn’t really two car (because you can’t open doors), the driveway does have room for a second car without obstructing exit of the first. But still. How much of an issue is this for people? Note there are two enormous pine trees growing beside the driveway.

It's offputting that the information they put in the listing is not accurate.

It wouldn't work for my family. I don't even consider street parking only or homes with carports.

OP, this depends entirely on your wants, and what you can live with.

In my neighborhood, we don't have garages or driveways. We rely on street parking only. It's fine for us.

Only you can decide what is a problem for you.

Anonymous wrote:Garages are a huge amenity for most people, hence 3, 4, and 5 car garages in new, larger builds. Nobody ever says they wished they had less garage space. If you buy a house with no garage, or with a 1-car garage, do so knowing it will limit the utility and appeal of the property in the future.

That advice might work for Loudoun County. It all depends on what area you're talking about. A single car garage inside the beltway or inside DC is a huge luxury, and certainly doesn't "limit the utility and appeal of the property in the future."

Garages are a huge amenity for most people, hence 3, 4, and 5 car garages in new, larger builds. Nobody ever says they wished they had less garage space. If you buy a house with no garage, or with a 1-car garage, do so knowing it will limit the utility and appeal of the property in the future.

My neighborhood does not have garages. Most houses have a 1 car driveway. It was built in the 60s. I think it depends on the norm for the area. If your house is the only one like it, it's a problem. My neighborhood is popular for its location and big old trees...but you are likely parking a car on the street.

This is clearly a preference. No one knows what you prefer.

It would be for me.

Listing says 2-car garage but it’s really one because you can only fit two compact ones in there any even then there isn’t room to open the doors. The driveway is small and you’d have to park a second car on the street to clear a path out for any car in the garage.