@meadbh. No problem. I can't help but notice that there are a lot of very big, obviously expensive houses around. Especially in such places as Florida, California, or Arizona. Stands to reason they are expensive to maintain and although these type of places are certainly not the norm, there must be some that are owned by members of this forum. it does raise a question though, as to whether North American society has over invested in our housing stock. I read somewhere that the proportion of our collective net worth tied up in housing is quite a bit higher now than it was in the past. Not sure how you would define " over invested" though.