Shack pix thread

[KC2UGV]

too small for what? are they wanting to open a disco or something? jeez ...

Realtors haven't caught onto the home desires becoming more prevalent these days: Smaller is better. My home is 1500 sq ft, and it sometimes feels too large.

[KK4AMI]

Realtors haven't caught onto the home desires becoming more prevalent these days: Smaller is better. My home is 1500 sq ft, and it sometimes feels too large.

I don't think that desire is coming from the Realtors, it's the customers. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but it's not the size that matters, it's how you are using it. Everybody wants "open and flowing" use of space. Now they want open kitchens, dining room and living spaces. I can see that in a multi floor house, but in our ranch style we would end up looking like the cabin on "Little House on the Prairie" . I admit, I screwed up. I have a galley kitchen with a hallway behind it and then a master bedroom. I should have eliminated the hallway and increased the size of the kitchen. In a ranch style house, most of your walls are "load bearing" since it sprawls out. It is harder to move walls or take them out entirely without major modifications in the attic. I like having individual rooms that I can shut the door on. If you have a cluttered mess you just shut the door when company comes.

[KC2UGV]

I don't think that desire is coming from the Realtors, it's the customers. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but it's not the size that matters, it's how you are using it. Everybody wants "open and flowing" use of space. Now they want open kitchens, dining room and living spaces. I can see that in a multi floor house, but in our ranch style we would end up looking like the cabin on "Little House on the Prairie" . I admit, I screwed up. I have a galley kitchen with a hallway behind it and then a master bedroom. I should have eliminated the hallway and increased the size of the kitchen. In a ranch style house, most of your walls are "load bearing" since it sprawls out. It is harder to move walls or take them out entirely without major modifications in the attic. I like having individual rooms that I can shut the door on. If you have a cluttered mess you just shut the door when company comes.

I beg to differ. Realtors are filled to the brim these days with 3000-5000 sq ft McMansions that they're having a hard time offloading. So, it's what they push. Hard. Not to mention, Realtors are paid a commission based on sales price. A bigger home sells for more money, which means more commission.

What people are waking up to now: Bigger home == more money in upkeep, utilities, etc. Bigger home == Bigger mortgage, which means you're locked in longer, and you've got a bigger debt load. Bigger home == Further away from the urban areas (Generally), which means you're commuting by car, which means more gas money, and longer times spent in cars rather than with family.

There's a reason millennials are eschewing their cars, the big house filled with stuff, and many of the trappings of the boomers. Living small is the new direction we're moving in.