Purchase in a pricey area or college town?

[W2R]

A quick and drty web search reveals that house sizes averaged 1400sf in 1970, and increased to 2500sf by 2006.

Interesting! So, I pursued it. Your figures are about right. The Census says here that the average house size in 1970 was 1500 square feet, and the average house size in 2007 was 2277 square feet. The median house size in 1970 was 1385 square feet, and in 2007 was 2521 square feet.

 

[Moemg]

Lovely house Amethyst !I live down the road from a Mcmansion development . Gigantic houses on zero lot lines with a million plus price tag. The houses are gorgeous but the lack of land makes them look tacky .

 

[ziggy29]

Interesting! So, I pursued it. Your figures are about right. The Census says here that the average house size in 1970 was 1500 square feet, and the average house size in 2007 was 2277 square feet. The median house size in 1970 was 1385 square feet, and in 2007 was 2521 square feet.

I guess that's why our little 1944 house is only about 1,150 square feet.

 

[W2R]

I guess that's why our little 1944 house is only about 1,150 square feet.

The census spreadsheet that I linked to only goes back to 1970, but I would speculate that your 1150 square foot house could be considered large by 1944 standards.

 

[Amethyst]

Didn't mean to offend anyone, especially Amethyst, though she doesn't seem offended and I think/hope she was just inquiring.

You got it 100%

 

[Amethyst]

P.S. My first house (that I bought by myself,in 1985...the fruits of some serious LBYM) was 13 years old, 1250 square feet, extremely basic, and cost $76,000.00.

When I invited friends over, the first thing they did was make fun of the size of my house. I knew they were just jealous that I could afford my own place! Independence counts more than size, my friends....

 

[aaronc879]

Interesting! So, I pursued it. Your figures are about right. The Census says here that the average house size in 1970 was 1500 square feet, and the average house size in 2007 was 2277 square feet. The median house size in 1970 was 1385 square feet, and in 2007 was 2521 square feet.

2521 sq ft is the most recent median house size? Where are those houses? I don't know anyone with a house over 1500 sq ft. I've never been in a house over 1500 sq ft. The house I grew up in is about 900 sq ft and the condo I bought last year is 860 sq ft and is much more than I need. I would be happy in a house with 500-600 sq ft. Who(with less than 3 kids) needs a 2500+ sq ft house? Seems like a waste of space and money.

 

[W2R]

2521 sq ft is the most recent median house size? Where are those houses? I don't know anyone with a house over 1500 sq ft. I've never been in a house over 1500 sq ft. The house I grew up in is about 900 sq ft and the condo I bought last year is 860 sq ft and is much more than I need. I would be happy in a house with 500-600 sq ft. Who(with less than 3 kids) needs a 2500+ sq ft house? Seems like a waste of space and money.

Oops! These medians and averages are of NEW houses, new in 1970 and then new in 2007. That's why it sounded wrong. Sorry I didn't express myself more clearly.

 

[Amethyst]

Who(with less than 3 kids) needs a 2500+ sq ft house? Seems like a waste of space and money.

Who needs anything more than the basics of anything? You, evidently, do not; and that will help you get to ER faster, I'm sure. And with less heartbreak. No "thieves break in and steal, and moth and rust corrupt" for you!

 

[haha]

Who(with less than 3 kids) needs a 2500+ sq ft house? Seems like a waste of space and money.

Well, until we have a Commissar of housing, I guess people in America are still free to buy whatever large or small house they want and can get a loan for.

But when that post is created, why not throw your hat into the ring?


Ha

 

[mb]

Why choose?

I like pricey college towns - Berkeley and Palo Alto in my area

Unfortunately they are both STILL very expensive

 

[CuppaJoe]

Why choose?

I like pricey college towns - Berkeley and Palo Alto in my area

Unfortunately they are both STILL very expensive

Exactly, why choose, when flashy and college town can co-exist. I live in a city near those college towns, OP might call it flashy. It would take me a while to count how many colleges exist within the city limits.

 

[Orchidflower]

I'm surprised nobody wants to be the flashy home cheap now--because the price will surely go back to it's original high after this Recession is over--which, to me, is a great opportunity to make money.
Regardless, a flashy house that I could buy CHEAPLY today in a college town would be ideal. You know that one would go up in value, for sure, and you would have so many cultural activities available in the interim.

 

[Koolau]

Exactly, why choose, when flashy and college town can co-exist. I live in a city near those college towns, OP might call it flashy. It would take me a while to count how many colleges exist within the city limits.

Same here, CuppaJoe. At least if 'price' is any indicator, then this is a "flashy" area - though you wouldn't know if from my little 1150 SF place. And, we've got universities and colleges coming our of our ears. Between community colleges and separate university college campuses there must be 10 in my "city" - and our population doesn't top 1,000,000.

 

[Amethyst]

Koolau, how should one pronounce your handle? Do you pronounce all the vowels separately, since it is Hawaiian?

Just curious.

 

[Koolau]

Koolau, how should one pronounce your handle? Do you pronounce all the vowels separately, since it is Hawaiian?

Just curious.

Amethyst,

Hawaiian it is - name of one of two mountain ranges on Oahu and not far from my house. It means north or windward. Fell in love with them the second I saw them.

Not yet fully indoctrinated in the Hawaiian pronunciation but best I can do is

Koh-as in Coke
Oh
LAU-as in laud

The subtleties of the pronunciation include a Hawaiian glottal stop after the Ko syllable. Also, most Hawaiian words have the accent on the next to last syllable. But not always. In the case of Koolau, the accent is sort of on the last syllable - if any accent at all.

Hope this isn't TMI. DW says I have a one track mind and here I thought it was wahine!

See pictures at:

Koolau Mountains Pictures - Oceania stock photos, fine art prints by QTL

 

[Zoocat]

In the best of all possible worlds for Oldbabe, she would buy a 1200 sq ft. bungalow in Santa Barbara (college town AND pricey town), living happily ever after, growing roses and artichokes and riding her bike to the beach.

 

[Orchidflower]

Right on...I'm with 'ya, Oldbabe. That's the coolest idea of all!

 

[NW-Bound]

I abstained from voting because I did not understand nor like either choice.

I would like to say that Amethyst's house is very nice, and not Mc anything. For a single person, a house like W2R's looks plenty.

Compared to the new McMansions of 3000 sqft, mine is just a McHome. It was built in 1986, and was originally only 2400sqft. We added an extension to make it 2800sqft when my 2nd child became a toddler (he will be 20 soon).

Attached is a Google Earth picture of the neighborhood. As you can see, the lots aren't that big. The houses are 2-story, and typically have a tile roof, and are of the older vintage where rooftop ACs were allowed (newer subdivisions all have AC on the ground).

We are only 9 miles from the state university, so it is very convenient for my children to go to school. However, the population of the surrounding metropolitan area is around 4.5 million, so it's no college town.

Google Earth only has an age-old coverage of the boonie area of my 2nd home, prior to it being there. Been too busy working and have not been up in 2 months.


PS. Just notice one house got its swimming pool turning all green. Mosquito swamp! Someone calls the city!

 

[NW-Bound]

Found a picture of my 2nd home in the high-country boonies of AZ, and a view from the same deck in the winter.

Neither of my homes fit in the two choices offered in the poll !