Continuing increase in the size of American homes...
By newtondak
@newtondak (3946)
United States
May 26, 2008 5:13pm CST
Media accounts reflect that the size of the American home has more than doubled since the 1950's - and continues to increase to the point that the standard home size would have been considered to be a mansion by 1950 standards.
With our on-the-go society, I would imagine that few of the people who built these very large houses actually spend much time in them. Why do you think people are finding the need for larger homes?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
26 May 08
These larger homes were built in more upscale communities to attract a higher socioeconomic class of people. As people continued to earn more money they wanted to upgrade their lifestyle so they moved to these homes, leaving the smaller and, in most cases older, homes less desirable to those in the middle and upper middle class earnings bracket. These old neighborhoods began to decline, driving down the value of other homes in the area so now, smaller homes are usually located in neighborhoods that most people would not want to live in. As more and more people wanted the larger homes in the newer communities, developers and builders were more than happy to accomodate them until there was a serious shortage of acceptable affordable housing on the market.
Fortunately, the real estate crash has renewed interest in revitalizing old neighborhoods containing these smaller and more affordable homes so some areas are getting a new lease on life.
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
26 May 08
Yes, I am afraid with the current trent of foreclosures, many of these homes will be sitting empty. Unfortunately, many are no long worth the amount borrowed against them.
@Barbietre (1438)
• United States
2 Jun 08
The problem is greed for many. I can not tell you how many sellers who bought a house many, many years ago and now think they have a castle and want to sell it for so much money because they heard someone down the street got it. Just because you overbuild your house and over improve it does not mean it will sell for a high price. If it is so much bigger tah houses in the area, buyers are not going to over pay. It has to fit with the neighborhood.
Also many people are becoming nesters and make their homes their " holidays" with big theather rooms so they do not go out to the movies and so on. It is making people too isloated.
And I blame TV too, they see these mega homes with acres and acres, then they come to NY on LI where the average house is on less than 1/2 an acre. Or they want all new appliances and all granite kitchens. They are living in a fantasy world and when the payments come due they can not afford that big house and loose it.
Or those "flip it" programs. They buy a house rehab it and think they can make $100,000 or more on it. Real investors know better.
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
3 Jun 08
Status, I guess. A lot of those McMansion things are being build on lots in the western suburbs of Philadelphis where I live. Unfortunately, they have very little land and they look out of proportion and awful. It's possible here to spend 2 or 3 million dollars for a house that doesn't have enough acerage to get township zoning to put in a swimming pool. How stupid is that? I think it's better to have a shack on some nice land. You can always build another house or add on to improve but there's not much you can do if there isn't anymore land available. Scarlett O'Hara had it right, the land is everything.
