Appetite for big houses is growing

 

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER and PAUL FOY -- Associated Press Writers

Published: Tuesday, May 22, 2007

 

WASHINGTON (AP) McMansions are sprouting in the suburbs of Washington and Atlanta, in southern Connecticut and out West in Utah as an appetite for bigger homes just keeps on growing.

 

One in five American houses had at least four bedrooms in 2005. That's up from one in six in 1990, despite shrinking families and increasing costs for construction and energy.

 

For more information, click below link.

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Associated Press writer Paul Foy reported from Salt Lake City.

Summary Box: Big houses getting popular

 

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/business/national/story/3624777p-12937624c.html

On the other end of the spectrum, there are so many 2-bedroom units going up in the urban areas of Cleveland (and Ohio) that it can be tough for a larger family to stay in the city.

The bathroom thing is entirely true. People demand almost as many bathrooms as bedrooms, and most old houses only have 1 or 1 and a half. Updating a house is an expensive task that homeowners don't want to invest in, because when people look for houses they expect an updated house; it's not something a homeowner can use as a selling point. Id rather see neighborhoods of old small housing stock in the inner city (west side of Columbus) get razed than to see suburban growth.

 

 

On the other end of the spectrum, there are so many 2-bedroom units going up in the urban areas of Cleveland (and Ohio) that it can be tough for a larger family to stay in the city.

 

This seems to be happening in Cincinnati as well.  I've seen listings of 2K sq ft homes with only two bedrooms.  I'm also disappointed to see a lot of condo listings with over 1400 sq. ft. with only one bedroom. 

I live in a rehabbed Victorian. It originally had 4 bedrooms. The rehabbers decided to make a megabathroom by combining one of the bedrooms with the existing bathroom space. Its nice, but I'd rather have the extra bedroom.

Megabathrooms are the pinacle of bad taste.

 

As for this obsession with having more bathrooms than residents: more bathrooms to clean, I say.

"Our kids have more stuff. They need more living space," said Valerie Astle, a grade-school teacher. "Our (old) house was fine when they were small, but we've just outgrown it."

 

Or maybe you have a bunch of crap that you probably don't use.  Get that bigger house Valerie, then rush off to Wal-Mart and fill your SUV with more junk to put in your bigger house.   

 

Or the alternative, stay in the smaller house and put some limits on your kids.  Teach them the value of money, and how to spend it wisely on quality not quantity.  Teach them how to give back to the community by donating items they no longer really need or use.  And unless you already have all 3 kids college tuition banked, put the money that you will spend on that big house and utilities toward something that will really help your kids....a solid future.

 

I bet they are fat.

The bathroom thing is entirely true. People demand almost as many bathrooms as bedrooms, and most old houses only have 1 or 1 and a half. Updating a house is an expensive task that homeowners don't want to invest in, because when people look for houses they expect an updated house; it's not something a homeowner can use as a selling point. Id rather see neighborhoods of old small housing stock in the inner city (west side of Columbus) get razed than to see suburban growth.

 

 

 

don't forget closests.  Older homes rarely have large closets more prewar buildings have small closets as most people of that time had fewer clothes and armoires and chest were use for clothing storage.  How in the hell did those people survive?

 

I live in a rehabbed Victorian. It originally had 4 bedrooms. The rehabbers decided to make a megabathroom by combining one of the bedrooms with the existing bathroom space. Its nice, but I'd rather have the extra bedroom.

I understand, I gutted a bedroom to make a closet and enlarge the bathroom into a master suite.  at the time i was in a relationship and I don't think I could live with one sink in a bathroom.

 

Megabathrooms are the pinacle of bad taste.

 

As for this obsession with having more bathrooms than residents: more bathrooms to clean, I say.

 

I disagree.  A bathroom is a place of refuge.  Although my dad thinks that when a family grows up with one bathroom they learn how to cooperate much better.  I just glad my brother and I had our own bathrooms growing up!

 

KOOW, Why do you have to clean the bathroom, that what children & domestic help is for!  :whip:

"Our kids have more stuff. They need more living space," said Valerie Astle, a grade-school teacher. "Our (old) house was fine when they were small, but we've just outgrown it."

 

Or maybe you have a bunch of crap that you probably don't use.  Get that bigger house Valerie, then rush off to Wal-Mart and fill your SUV with more junk to put in your bigger house.   

 

Or the alternative, stay in the smaller house and put some limits on your kids.  Teach them the value of money, and how to spend it wisely on quality not quantity.  Teach them how to give back to the community by donating items they no longer really need or use.  And unless you already have all 3 kids college tuition banked, put the money that you will spend on that big house and utilities toward something that will really help your kids....a solid future.

 

I bet they are fat.

Not necessarily.  Just because you live in a big house doesn't mean that you hav ea lot of crap or that your kids don't know the value of a dollar, or the differnence between quality and quantity.

 

Not every one buys because bigger is better, I'm a single person that lives in a 3k sq. foot house.  When I bought my house I didn't know a thing about home buying nor did I have any guidance (I thought I was "the man" and didn't want to ask my dad for help) and the price I paid seemed really good for the neighborhood.  Until I had bought the place I didn't realize how big 3k sq. feet was.  My purchase was all dumb luck - If I knew then what I know now about home purchasing I would have never bought my apartment.

 

I do agree that they are probably fat.

 

 

don't forget closests.  Older homes rarely have large closets more prewar buildings have small closets as most people of that time had fewer clothes and armoires and chest were use for clothing storage.  How in the hell did those people survive?

 

I lived in a house in Cincinnati that had no closets at all except for one in the master bedroom, and it literally wasn't deep enough to fit a coat hanger. Why even bother building a closet if it cant fit a hanger?! The house had these really cool wood panel borders going up 1/3rd of the wall, a chandelier, and bronze candlestick holder, all of which our renters decided to paint over the same color as the walls! (WTF?!).

don't forget closests.  Older homes rarely have large closets more prewar buildings have small closets as most people of that time had fewer clothes and armoires and chest were use for clothing storage.  How in the hell did those people survive?

 

I lived in a house in Cincinnati that had no closets at all except for one in the master bedroom, and it literally wasn't deep enough to fit a coat hanger. Why even bother building a closet if it cant fit a hanger?! The house had these really cool wood panel borders going up 1/3rd of the wall, a chandelier, and bronze candlestick holder, all of which our renters decided to paint over the same color as the walls! (WTF?!).

 

I couldn't live without any closets.  Hell I have six damn closets in my bedroom, that I just had constructed in January and they are already packed to the gills and too small.

 

I know most people want the fa-bu kitchen or out of this world bathroom but for me...its all about closet space!

 

Those renters that painted obviously have no taste.  Off with their heads!!

I couldn't live without any closets.  Hell I have six damn closets in my bedroom, that I just had constructed in January and they are already packed to the gills and too small.

 

This would make it entirely impossible for metrocity to be your friend.

 

I bet you're fat, too.

 

[i'm teasing, metrocity: I agree with every word of your response. ESPECIALLY the fat part.]

 

My twee family has only lived in one camode abodes, and we are a more civil microsociety for it. We also have no compunction whatsoever about pooping and showering in front of each other, though I imagine that may change once the teens set in. Even then, one bathroom is the only way to go. The boy has to learn the awful truth about women sooner or later, and vice versa.

 

I especially miss the bathroom back in my Hamtramck home. The water systems in 1920s worker houses were very effecient, meaning the toilet usually shared a wall with the kitchen sink. When the party would inevitably end up in the kitchen, guests could visit the bathroom and take care of business without missing a beat of the conversation. Those were some very close friendships...

 

And one final note in refutation of megabathrooms...

 

"I am sitting in the smallest room of my house. I have your review before me. In a moment it will be behind me." – Correspondance from composer Max Reger to music critic Rudolf Louis.

Only KOOW....only KOOW  :roll:

" We also have no compunction whatsoever about pooping and showering in front of each other"

 

Showering is fine... but I'm sorry, there are some moments in life that are absolutely sacred and inviolate. I love my partner dearly, but I never want to be at THAT comfort level with him.

I couldn't live without any closets.  Hell I have six damn closets in my bedroom, that I just had constructed in January and they are already packed to the gills and too small.

 

I know most people want the fa-bu kitchen or out of this world bathroom but for me...its all about closet space!

 

Trust me, I love closet space too, about 100 sq ft of my 675 sq ft condo is closet space. 

 

I guess the point of my rant is because I get tired of Americans saying how much damn space they "need" as opposed to it being a "want".  That family will have over 1,000 sq feet per person in that new house....and they make it sound like they are doing it all for their kids.  Now, just for fun, let's say Valerie and Evan Astle are in a plane crash tomorrow, how did they really prepare the kids for the future...hopefully they haven't saddled them with a giant mound of debt with the big mortgage, 3 car payments and credit cards.  Maybe they are independently wealthy(since she is a grade school teacher)....but the odds are in the US right now that they are living close or beyond their means.  Some of these people need to step back and think about what is more important.....not to mention, they may want to think about their carbon footprint.

 

I agree with Mayday....baking brownies is a private affair.

^How are the Astle's planning for their kids' future? Life insurance.

 

Personally, I'm worth FAR more dead than alive. Come time for that first tuition check, well, daddy's ready to make the necessary sacrifice (as previously mentioned, I'm pulling for a space mishap).

 

As for your stance on brownies, hey, when you gotta bake, you gotta bake.

 

.....not to mention, they may want to think about their carbon footprint.

 

The only footprints these types care about are the ones the kiddies leave on the carpet in that extra formal room that never gets used.

 

Your first post is spot on btw.

^How are the Astle's planning for their kids' future? Life insurance.

 

Personally, I'm worth FAR more dead than alive. Come time for that first tuition check, well, daddy's ready to make the necessary sacrifice (as previously mentioned, I'm pulling for a space mishap).

 

In all seriousness, the money from life insurance does not replace the life of a parent.  :(

Im gonna hate buying life insurance when I'm older; I don't even want to think about death.

[The only footprints these types care about are the ones the kiddies leave on the carpet in that extra formal room that never gets used.

 

Thats so funny you say that.  Growing up, we hardy ever used our living room, unless my parents were having a party or during the holidays.  My brother and I were forbidden to use the living room, library or enter our house via front door.

^How are the Astle's planning for their kids' future? Life insurance.

 

Personally, I'm worth FAR more dead than alive. Come time for that first tuition check, well, daddy's ready to make the necessary sacrifice (as previously mentioned, I'm pulling for a space mishap).

 

In all seriousness, the money from life insurance does not replace the life of a parent.  :(

 

I could show you some parents that would change your mind.

 

Nevertheless, you are correct.

^How are the Astle's planning for their kids' future? Life insurance.

 

Personally, I'm worth FAR more dead than alive. Come time for that first tuition check, well, daddy's ready to make the necessary sacrifice (as previously mentioned, I'm pulling for a space mishap).

 

In all seriousness, the money from life insurance does not replace the life of a parent.  :( 

 

I could show you some parents that would change your mind.

 

Nevertheless, you are correct.

 

I'm just speaking as someone who lost her father as a child.  You'd be amazed to hear how many times someone would say "at least you/your family got life insurance money."  I have no idea what type my dad had.  Either way, it does not make up for his death.

 

I'm just speaking as someone who lost her father as a child. 

 

^ Me too (and mom by age 30). By the way: my folks were the good kind.