As the housing industry continues its economic slump, house builders are finding that smaller homes are selling well in some markets. In fact, after significant increases in the average size of a new home, the average home size fell last year for the first time since 1994. These smaller homes are especially popular in Seattle as well as in Portland.
I've noticed that houses in general here seem to be smaller on average than those in Texas. Also, upscale neighborhoods here have lots of nice homes, but fewer and smaller McMansions. I'm not exactly sure why this is, but I'd speculate that since Seattle is a more dense urban area than many others nationwide, people here are used to things being more compact and build homes more appropriate for a city than for a ranch. It seems to be a cultural thing, and I get the sense that many people think of larger homes and McMansions as being tacky, whereas I rarely got that sense when I lived in Texas. And, while I'm speculating, I'll speculate that a higher cost of here makes smaller homes more attractive, too.
Anyway, I always find it interesting when Seattle is mentioned for being different from other parts of the country, and thought I'd offer my comments on smaller houses being popular here.
We moved to Seattle in February 2008 and shared blog posts and photos during our first few years in Seattle.
- Troy & Lesley H
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Smaller houses more popular here
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6 comments:
...different from* other parts of the country.
Interesting observations. McMansions are indeed tacky and ostentatious.
Fixed
I'll edit all posts for two dollars per post, paid in monthly lump sums.
Of course in Texas, space is no problem and prices are cheap compared to other parts of the country. But is seems like it has become like a status symbol to have an over sized house. Not that they need it, but some sort of keeping up the Jones's. Through the years the median size of house has increased tremendously without merit. The price of property taxes, upkeep, insurance and utilities grow exponentially with a large house. Not worth it really. On the other side, if you buy a real small house, there is a risk of living with a lower economic class and more crime.
Density is definitely a factor, but I also think people here are concerned with waste and "green"-ness as well. It's much more efficient and less wasteful to have a smaller home - I would say that's the general mentality of Seattlites. Having lived in different sized places in my life (the largest of which was in Plano), I can say there's not much you can do in a huge home in TX that you can't in a bungalow in WA. Except have 6 guests stay overnight. ;)
I have to respond to this. We're selling our house in Texas and we are just plain tired of all the BS that goes into maintaining a house: home repairs, plumbing repairs, roof repairs, yard maintenance, pest control. It's just not worth it to us, and along with the insane property tax that Texas has, we think a condo in Seattle would fit our needs better.
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