You’re right. Houses are getting bigger.
Families purchasing new construction are opting for homes with open floor plans, more bathrooms, two and three car garages, great rooms, high ceilings. And why not? These homes are often well designed, comfortable, and easy living for a family.
Some families are finding however, that there are tradeoffs. You can afford a great big house in a neighborhood with a great big commute. Or the cost of maintaining the home is causing you to work more hours, away from your home and family. Perhaps the effort of upkeep is not worth it to you as you get older. Or your new home is in a community with restrictions and covenants, you will gladly change size of garage and closets for a larger back yard and more autonomy.
Deciding on the type of home that is right for you depends a lot on what you are doing with your life. If you are raising a couple of kids, you will value an open floor plan, easy to maintain floors, a kitchen with plenty of cabinets and counter space. And bathrooms – kids and yours. Yours has the garden tub, Jacuzzi, separate shower, and the custom fixtures. Ahh, your retreat!
But if you are not raising a family, consider if you want a large house, a small one – or a newer one of a large size that still has spaciousness, room for family to visit, but easier to maintain. Do you want a formal room for show, do you do a lot of entertaining, or is a cozy well organized space more to your lifestyle?
Across the US, the average size of a home increased by over 500 square feet within the past 8 years. The preference for larger spaces, open kitchens, well planned storage, and comfortable rooms is unmistakable.
Some communities are now passing laws to restrict the size of new homes, before they get any bigger! Zoning laws can restrict height of a home, or restrict any renovations to be cone within the existing footprint. Still other municipalities place limits on size increases, such as limiting the space on the lot that a house can occupy to 40%, or allowing a new home which replaces a demolished one to only occupy 20% more space.