re: Average Sq Ft of homes by decade

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If you are in a suburban / urban area full of good jobs, the competition for houses like the small 2-3 BR ranch style built in the late 50s through early 70s is staggering.

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Like Southdowns in BR?

I do have empathy for young homebuyers today when the choices are

1) small older home in the hood
2) new shitty DSLD home in a soulless development you will never be able to escape financially
3) overbuilt McMansion you can’t afford
4) townhome or condo

I have been fortunate to be able to buy small homes on the periphery of urban centers that I was able to make money on with the caveat that I have commuted, sometimes and hour or more each way, every working day of my life. We’ve been outside Hammond for 20 years in a 50 year old 2000sf home, that will be my last. It’s the largest home I’ve ever owned.

if I had a large family though, it would have been a challenge. However I do think that quality of life matters and whatever sacrifices we would have had to make would have been worth it. BTW interest rates today are far lower than they were for 90% of my mortgage paying life, but prices are higher

I paid 240K for this house in 2006. I’ve spent at least another 100K in improvements. I doubt it would sell for more than the low 300’s even today, which to me is pretty damn good in comparison to the other crap around. Just got to be willing to commute

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And you have a high chance of a stroke dealing with the various contractors to do portions of the home.

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My favorite response so far has been to build it yourself or be your own contractor.

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No one wants to pay fair market value for a house and have to worry about upgrades. They want social media-ready so they can show it off to friends and family.

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What are people basing this view on?

Your stance implies that there are a multitude of homes out there that are appropriately priced and not in the ghetto that are being turned down solely because they aren’t fully updated.

This is the second or third time I’ve seen this posted.

I would really like to see the info backing that view up.

You are poo pooing that avenue.

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2014: 2,657

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Not sure I believe this

Seems like most of these massive new sprawling neighborhoods are mostly 1500-2000

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Seems like most of these massive new sprawling neighborhoods are mostly 1500-2000

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If you use DR Horton as a starting point for that view, they average 1950-2000 sqft.

And the average cost is $365,000.

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1920: 1,048 square feet
1930: 1,129
1940: 1,177
1950: 983
1960: 1,289
1970: 1,500
1980: 1,740
1990: 2,080
2000: 2,266
2010: 2,392
2014: 2,657
2026: 1,500

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FIFY

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My favorite response so far has been to build it yourself or be your own contractor.

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I’m a contractor and I would never build a home for myself

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umm they were not bullshite and I specifically talked about this

but also understand price per SF is way up and that its very hard to find smaller houses now that are not in the ghetto.

as i said in the other thread....You and I dont have this issue but we need to be smart enough and self aware enough to understand that the LC and Laff area real estate markets are not the norm for anywhere with economies that are remotely similar.

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Yes I agree. Salmon shared this article that somewhat compares apples to apples: LINK

"Bottom line: even adjusting for the fact that homes are bigger and have central air conditioning today, they are still 17 percent more expensive than 1971 in terms of the time price."

So that is very relevant and the best argument I've seen so far comparing housing over two time periods. Although 17% is more of a modest difference. Seems like most people were implying a 100% increase or something wild.