Downsizing the family home

[ronandannette]

Wow what does your son do that he can’t afford a mansion? A house that big here would be a few million dollars

I think these are what was referred to as “McMansions” during the US housing frenzy of the early 2000’s that contributed to the sub-prime mortgage crash. I’ve honestly never heard a fully-understandable explanation on how they got produced so cheaply; their industry is very different than ours.

In your city and mine, zoning for new residential is very dense; around 70 single-family units per hectare; a half-acre urban or suburban lot is a fantasy. Most new builds are on 50ft. frontages, which limits the size of most to a max. of 2,000 ft.sq. The median new home price here topped $700,000 for the month of June, and that’s for the type of home you’re describing. You absolutely have to go condo if you want a new build under 1/2 million.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I think these are what was referred to as “McMansions” during the US housing frenzy of the early 2000’s that contributed to the sub-prime mortgage crash. I’ve honestly never heard a fully-understandable explanation on how they got produced so cheaply; their industry is very different than ours.

In your city and mine, zoning for new residential is very dense; around 70 single-family units per hectare; a half-acre urban or suburban lot is a fantasy. Most new builds are on 50ft. frontages, which limits the size of most to a max. of 2,000 ft.sq. The median new home price here topped $700,000 for the month of June, and that’s for the type of home you’re describing. You absolutely have to go condo if you want a new build under 1/2 million.

Totally agree. And the zoning laws makes sense why we don't 'have these huge McMansions in our city. Most new builds are two stories and cab overs. And yes lots of multi generational families from Asia.

 

[china mom]

I think these are what was referred to as “McMansions” during the US housing frenzy of the early 2000’s that contributed to the sub-prime mortgage crash. I’ve honestly never heard a fully-understandable explanation on how they got produced so cheaply; their industry is very different than ours.

In your city and mine, zoning for new residential is very dense; around 70 single-family units per hectare; a half-acre urban or suburban lot is a fantasy. Most new builds are on 50ft. frontages, which limits the size of most to a max. of 2,000 ft.sq. The median new home price here topped $700,000 for the month of June, and that’s for the type of home you’re describing. You absolutely have to go condo if you want a new build under 1/2 million.

Definitely a difference in building costs and the cost of land, not only between the US and Canada but between areas here in the States and even within states. Our current house/land would probably sell for $1.5M a mere 30 miles from where we are (if you could even find a comp).

We don't think of our house as a McMansion, just our normal house but that is probably because of the area we are in. I might have called it a McMansion if I found it in one of the more densely populated areas of my state.

Our starter home as newlyweds was 2000 sq ft on .25 acre.

Current: 5200 sq ft 1.2 acre lot.

 

[Kitty 34]

We have always lived in our ranch. It was a bit small when raising three sons but just perfect now for when the grands come to visit or the occasional son and DIL and dogs.

 

[kdonnel]

what are the average lot sizes those houses are on?

Depends.

New construction in a new neighborhood, 1/4 acre to 1/3 acre. I have 5300+ sq feet counting the 1200 in the finished basement on a 1/4 acre lot built in 2005.

New infill construction, 1/2 to 1 acre but the home is likely 6000+ not counting any unfinished basement.

Basically if the home is in a neighborhood constructed in 2000 or later expect it to be 1/4 to 1/3. If the home is in a neighborhood constructed prior to 2000 the lots get bigger the older the home.

 

[bluezy]

Definitely a difference in building costs and the cost of land, not only between the US and Canada but between areas here in the States and even within states. Our current house/land would probably sell for $1.5M a mere 30 miles from where we are (if you could even find a comp).

We don't think of our house as a McMansion, just our normal house but that is probably because of the area we are in. I might have called it a McMansion if I found it in one of the more densely populated areas of my state.

Our starter home as newlyweds was 2000 sq ft on .25 acre.

Current: 5200 sq ft 1.2 acre lot.

Yes! Location, location, location. We have a 4,000+ sq. ft. house on 4 acres of land. A similar size house 30 miles away would cost more than twice what ours would list for in this area *and* it would only be on a 1/4 acre of land. Head the opposite direction and we could have several acres of land and a 5,000+ sq. ft. house for less than what our current house would list for.

 

[disykat]

Definitely a difference in building costs and the cost of land, not only between the US and Canada but between areas here in the States and even within states. Our current house/land would probably sell for $1.5M a mere 30 miles from where we are (if you could even find a comp).

We don't think of our house as a McMansion, just our normal house but that is probably because of the area we are in. I might have called it a McMansion if I found it in one of the more densely populated areas of my state.

Our starter home as newlyweds was 2000 sq ft on .25 acre.

Current: 5200 sq ft 1.2 acre lot

I would consider your house more actual mansion. (Or just very large!) In our area McMansions were new builds with over 2000 sq ft on less than a 1/4 acre. Since houses aren't generally built with basements here unless they are built on a steep hill, they require a slightly bigger footprint to get the sq footage. Big houses here can really take up a lot of a small lot.

 

[barkley]

Yes. Our house is 3 levels - including a finished basement. Son’s townhouse is also 3 levels.

The new builds going into my older son’s 1950’s neighborhood are also multi level.

I can't imagine living in 3 stories! during the 10 months between selling our prior home and buying our current we rented a 2 story and I decided that if I ever had any inclination to live in more than a single story it would have to have separate climate control zones as well as separate full laundry rooms.

not only between the US and Canada but between areas here in the States and even within states. Our current house/land would probably sell for $1.5M a mere 30 miles from where we are (if you could even find a comp).

you said it! the difference between where I am in washington state vs. the seattle region price wise is unbelievable. 30 minutes away from here and somebody would subdivide our 10 acres so they could reap the riches of building and selling 150 units (can't subdivide where I currently live).

 

[china mom]

I would consider your house more actual mansion. (Or just very large!) In our area McMansions were new builds with over 2000 sq ft on less than a 1/4 acre. Since houses aren't generally built with basements here unless they are built on a steep hill, they require a slightly bigger footprint to get the sq footage. Big houses here can really take up a lot of a small lot.

See, that is crazy to me. I would not call 2000 sq a "McMansion". even on a small lot. Where I grew up, our town had something like 50,000 houses all on 1/4 acre lots and all between 1700-2400 square feet, with 2,000 being the norm. It was build in the 60's and touted as "affordable housing". Not a single basement among them.

My house is the third largest in our community of about 300 houses with all on 1+ acre lots due to being on septic systems and most averaging 400 sq ft. They just look normal to me now.

Yes, my house is big but that is partially because there is an attached 1300 sq foot apartment that we used for my mother (and then later, an elderly friend).

There are houses in my neighborhood for sale for between $750-900K (I didn't pay that much) that would easily sell for $1.5M just 30 miles west of us and who knows what they would get for them in a more expensive state.

This is the house I grew up in (sorry for how run down it looks). It has a larger lot than most because it is on the corner.


And this is DH and my starter home (same town)
In my area, they are not considered McMansions or large.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

We downsized 6 years ago and it was the best decision ever. We went from a 120 year old 6700 square foot house with 7 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths, to a brand new 3100 sq foot 4 bedroom 3 bath bungalow with first floor master. We have an HOA now (hated on the Dis, but we love it) as we do basically nothing outside but water my ferns in the planters on the front porch.

We also only live here part time as we spend time in our weekend home 7-8 months out of the year on a lake an hour away, or our Florida home for a few months in the winter. Downsizing really simplified our life.