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House Sizes Are Not Bigger in Texas... Ranked 5th in Size

By Donna Harris

Real Estate Agent with Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com 0480809

November 01, 2011 01:36 PM

Not everything is bigger in Texas... Inman News published a story this morning with the top ten states with the largest houses, and Texas was only Fifth on the list! That means there are 4 other states that feel it's better to be bigger.

texas Just a reminder that these are "Median" numbers and not "Average" numbers, so they do skew information a little. For Texas, it says the Median size home is 2031 sqft while the Median for all of the U.S. is a mere 1761 sqft. Personally, I feel that the U.S. number is skewed in the fact that places with basements don't actually count the basement in square footage, though it's definitely liveable space when it's finished out. I've heard lots of stories from my mom about how she grew up with her two brothers in a house about 1100 sqft, but the entire basement was finished which doubled the size to well over 2000 sqft. If basements were included, these numbers would be much different.

In Texas, we build above the grade, not below it, 99.99% of the time.

The top ten list from Inman news and Realtor.com includes:
#1 - Utah - 2305 sqft
#2 - Colorado - 2126 sqft
#3 - Wyoming - 2052 sqft
#4 - Montana - 2040 sqft
#5 - Texas - 2031 sqft
#6 - South Dakota - 1984 sqft
#7 - Georgia - 1963 sqft
#8 - Idaho - 1932 sqft
#9 - Maryland - 1920 sqft
#10-Washington - 1903 sqft

**Are You Packed Yet?**

Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.com
Donna@DonnaHomes.com
austin-texas-homes-for-sale.com

Austin TX Real Estate

and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way.

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Copyright© 2011 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* House Sizes Are Not Bigger in Texas... Ranked 5th in Size * was first published on donnahomesblog.com.

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Joseph F Pino

Pino Agency - Elmer, NJ

Appraisal standards don't count finished basements as living space, only added value for finished to nonfinished space. Some areas don't allow sleeping in the basement unless there is a full size window to allow escape.

Oct 31, 2011 07:52 AM

Steve, Joel & Steve A. Chain

Chain Real Estate Investments & Mortgage, Steve & Joel Chain - Cottonwood, CA

Donna,

We don't see many basements in our area. Good speed with your Texas home sales.

Steve

Nov 01, 2011 06:15 AM

Gary Coles (International Referrals)

Venture Realty International - Las Vegas, NV

Latin America Real Estate

Donna, Your title is great -- it really caught my attention. I just had to look at your post. I was interested to see that the 4 states ahead of Texas are high in the Rocky Mountains. I wonder if there is some type of correlation with being up in the mountains and lots of winter. Maybe people just have to spend a lot more time inside. LOL

Nov 01, 2011 01:43 PM

Melissa Brown

Helen Adams Realty - Charlotte, NC

Realtor - South Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

Donna, I was really surprised at some of the state on this list! I would have expected Texas to top it off because as you say, "everything is bigger in Texas!" But Utah? Wow! Thanks for sharing! Very interestting!

Nov 01, 2011 02:28 PM

Wayne Johnson

Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper REALTORS® - San Antonio, TX

San Antonio REALTOR, San Antonio Homes For Sale

Donna-The four states with larger houses are not densley populated and have fewer people per square mile than Texas, so fewer housing units. We're number 5, we're number 5--just doesn't have a nice ring to it, does it?

Nov 01, 2011 05:48 PM

Fred Carver Real Estate Consulant

Retired BC Realtor - Victoria, BC

Accredited Real Estate Consultant

Hi Donna...interesting, here we count all finished area including basements.

Cheers

Nov 01, 2011 06:04 PM

Ricki Eichler McCallum

CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX

Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

Hi Donna, These are interesting stats, thanks for sharing! :)

Nov 02, 2011 02:01 AM

Tim Bradley

Contour Investment Properties - Jackson Hole, WY

Commercial Real Estate Expert in Jackson Hole, WY

Wonder why the largest homes are all in the Rocky Mountain West? Interesting...

I would be willing to bet that Utah has the largest average family size, so I understand that one. Is that true of Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado?

Nov 02, 2011 02:53 AM

John Cannata

214-728-0449 http://TexasLoanGuy.com - Frisco, TX

Texas Home Mortgage - Purchase or Refinance

wow. Utah average size is over 2300 sq feet. I still think that things are bigger in Texas. ;-)

Nov 02, 2011 03:24 AM

Kristin Moran

Owner - RE/MAX Access - KristinMoran@Remax.net - San Antonio, TX

San Antonio,TX - Real Estate - 210-313-7397

I am truly surprised at the states listed! We aren't off by much at all! I think Gary is right up above, if I was in a COLD state I would stay indoors way more than I do now!

Nov 02, 2011 07:24 AM

Patricia Beck

RE/MAX Properties, Inc., ABR, GRI, SRES - Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs Realty

So they are not including basements? Colorado is high up on the list...many homes have basements here.

Nov 02, 2011 10:09 AM

C. Lloyd McKenzie

Living Albuquerque - Albuquerque, NM

Living Albuquerque

Great post Donna...I think if Texas were #1 here it still would be okay...I just wonder if it as anything to do with the cost of real estate in these areas. Economic rent dictates that is places such as New York residents need to purchase less homes for more money than in the states mentioned

Nov 02, 2011 03:34 PM

Sussie Sutton

David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX

David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers

I agree with you Donna I think the numbers are skewed too.

Nov 02, 2011 03:57 PM