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How much house do you need?

By Carol Lynne Bull

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams

January 06, 2009 01:27 PM

How much house is to much house?

It's a new year. and about time too. we all need a clean slate. And while we are at it lets clean out those closest. If you are lucky enough to have any. That basement could use a look at also. Now that all is tidy Who's ready to buy and sell some houses.

If your ready to buy a house, more important than how much can you afford is... How much do you really need. I sincerely hope we are done with buying the biggest house on the block. lets get real here. There is really no need to have five bed rooms if you only have two kids. What was with the media rooms anyway. We already had a family room. This may be just me, but; the sitting room in the master bedroom? Please, those chairs end up covered in clothes. We can keep the walk in closets if they are already there. No use getting crazy. The thing is, big is not always better. Yes the rates are good. Here in Alexandria Va. both in the city and the Fairfax county end there are homes in all price ranges. duplexes town homes and condos too. Ask your self first. Do I need 4 1/2 bathrooms, do I need 7,500 sq. feet to live in. Think back to your own home growing up. how many extra bedrooms did you have? Did each child have there own bathroom? Here in the Del Ray and Rosemont area of Alexandria VA. we have lovely homes for families who want homes to love and grow into. Sure we have a few " Mc Mansions", but; we are known for our love of home and hearth, are cats, dogs and gardens.

Check your credit scores, call your bank, think about what you need and then what you want. but not how much you can get.

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April Hayden-Munson

Brookfield, WI

Brookfield Wisconsin Real Estate

Carol,

It is amazing to me how spoiled many have become. I work with many clients as first time buyers that think they should be able to buy a brand new 2000 square foot home - as a FIRST home. What happened to buying a small home, staying 5 - 7 years, getting some equity and moving up?

Jan 20, 2009 09:09 AM

Not a real person

San Diego, CA

New home construction here seems to have peaked earlier this decade at something like 2,300 square feet. The past few years have seen that fall to around 2,150 square feet.

I might be able to understand the 15,000-SF mansion if it's owned by a media star or a sports star. After all, they have to have lots of room for that championship party and lots of bedrooms to put up their drunk/stoned family and friends.

But I never have understood the need to have the biggest home on the block as a status symbol. My status symbol is going out to my garden and reading a book, or simply sitting and watching the birds, bees, butterflies, ants, centipedes, cats, dogs, lizards, sunrises, sunsets, and anything else that happens to come within view.

One of the reasons why I don't enjoy the Christmas holidays is because of the excessive use of Christmas lights. Everyone seems to be trying to outdo each other with their lights. But at what cost in spending time putting them up instead of time with the family. And the cost! Holy electric bill, Batman! When will it end? Imagine if we did without Christmas lights for just one year and took the electric savings and dedicated it feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, helping abused and battered women and children, helping abandoned pets, etc., etc., etc.

Ah, well, I can dream.

Jan 21, 2009 03:00 AM

Carol Lynne Bull

Keller Williams - Alexandria, VA

Russel you are soooo right, I can really do with out the Costco blow ups. That money would do a lot of good at the food pantries and shelters.

Jan 21, 2009 04:46 AM

April, You are right about that.Then again here in Del Ray our starter homes start at $500.00 - 550.00. They can be small but. you; pay for the location. You should see though, the mcmansions the move into. Up the hill knock it done and Katy bar the door! Your neighbor is living in a hole between two huge walls of siding.

Carol

Jan 21, 2009 04:55 AM

"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.

President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

Hi Carol...

I just popped in to say Hi and here we have a post about how much house we need. I've decided we have too much house and it's time to downsize. The way I see it if we are only using half our home then we don't need as much footage as we have. We downsized last December and obviously we didn't downsize enough. Damn! I promised myself "no more moving". Honestly, I really do need to quit making promises I can't keep :)

TLW...ROAR!

Jan 29, 2009 09:32 AM

Dear LW, Please take it slow. No more broken bones! We have lovely homes just made for two here in Del Ray if you want to move to the Old Dominion.

Jan 30, 2009 01:29 PM

Regina P. Brown

MBA Broker Consultants - Carlsbad, CA

M.B.A., Broker, Instructor

Carol, I agree that bigger homes are not better. I see more folks downsizing because it's too much to clean and maintain. The other problem with big homes is that: your kids will move back in because you have plenty of room! And bring their families with them. And maybe some other relatives will come to "visit" for a long time. One of my friends couldn't get her grown children to leave the nest, so she and her husband moved to a 1 bedroom. It worked - the kids were forced to move out and get their own places.

Feb 16, 2009 03:58 AM

How much house do you need?

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