NationStates Jolt Archive

The average size of houses these days by far outdo houses of the past. And building materials are very expensive. I'm not even talking about more living space though...we have homes with huge vaulted ceilings in the entrance, a place you don't generally hang out in much. Spacious living rooms with vaulted ceilings rather than two storeys, dining rooms big enough to fit an 11 foot table, china cupboard and assorted artwork. And what's worse, all this space is claimed by two, sometimes four or five people at the most.

It's not just the upper class building these houses...no...those houses are even more extravagant and wasteful. The middle class is getting into hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt for these ridiculous 'homes'. When did we start treating our homes like ornaments? Are you actually ever going to sit on that chaise lounge beside that antique plant stand in the hallway? Probably not. So why the hell did you spend three grand on the set? Just for show! Do you really need four hundred square feet for your roman-style bathtub? Come on now...you work ten hour days...do you really use that tub often enough to justify it?

I don't want a big, stupid, art gallery for a home. I want space that is useful, comfortable, and energy efficient. I'm not one to host dinner parties or murder mysteries...I LIVE in my home. What the hell are people thinking these days?

It's a class symbol. So many middle classers want to live like the upper class. A house is a visible example of class.

My theory.

Meh, England's houses are pretty small and for some reason everyone has to have small glass rooms added on to the side of their house

That, and it's an "investment."

And you want your investment to pay off big, don't you?

It's a class symbol. So many middle classers want to live like the upper class. A house is a visible example of class.

My theory.
Oh I agree that it's a symbol. Much as a huge SUV is, much as so many material possessions are...but I wonder how many people even question these things. Do the majority of us really believe that success is measured in square feet

Christ...I'd prefer to live in a shack and vacation in Cuba six months out of every year. Seriously. How many hours do you actually SPEND in that stupid house anyway?

Meh, England's houses are pretty small and for some reason everyone has to have small glass rooms added on to the side of their house
Yeah, I'm definately thinking of North America, more specifically Canada, because we have the space to build these stupid mini-mansions. I don't doubt however, that Britain would be full of them too if the space allowed it.

That, and it's an "investment."

And you want your investment to pay off big, don't you?
Gah. True. Though I seriously doubt it is more about 'investment' than it is about keeping up with the Jonses.

we live in an age of conspicuous consumption. greed is good and the more you display your own wealth the better person you must be.

2 people each making a professional salary can afford alot of stuff. they want everyone to know it

and

the mortage interest rates and lending rules have changed so that less income gets more money then ever. so people can take the chance to buy a big ass house that no one making their salaries could have afforded in the past.

we live in an age of conspicuous consumption. greed is good and the more you display your own wealth the better person you must be.

2 people each making a professional salary can afford alot of stuff. they want everyone to know it

and

the mortage interest rates and lending rules have changed so that less income gets more money then ever. so people can take the chance to buy a big ass house that no one making their salaries could have afforded in the past.
Who would take that chance anymore in today's uncertain times? Do people really feel that secure in their jobs that they are willing to go so extremely into debt? I don't. People seem addicted to debt. Dumbasses. The same shit happened in the late 70s, and when oil prices bottomed out, lots of people lost their homes and savings.

Space..... People need space. And unfortunately it's running out :(

What about you folks...is a huge house something you aspire to some day?

What about you folks...is a huge house something you aspire to some day?
Huge no. Big yes.

Space..... People need space. And unfortunately it's running out :(
Yes, but vaulted ceilings don't really give you more space. The design of these houses is absurd. I've seen much smaller homes that actually tend to have more living space because they are designed with that in mind.

My house is under 1300 square feet. It's much smaller than the one I grew up in. I would like to have a much bigger one someday. Since your house is the place where you keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff, the bigger your house is the more stuff you can have, and stuff is good. If stuff wasn't good, you wouldn't bother to have any and wouldn't waste your time getting more of it.

Also, you can fit more people in a bigger house - both of the temporary and permanent variety.

We are looking at homes now in another state. I am looking for something with 4 bedrooms and two bathrooms we will fit in comfortably.
I a not looking for the soaring two story foyer or any of that other wasteful crap.

Because of the area we live in, the real estate market is artifically high-We can put our home on the market now for twice what we paid for it 4 yrs ago and expect to close within 60 days.
We can get more house for half the money. And less school/propert taxes where we are looking. In a gated community. Our mortgage will be reduced by over $100,000.00. At that rate, we will make bi-monthly payments and pay it off much sooner.

I may be able to retire someday with the extra money we have to invest. We will be paying cash for everything and even be able to put some aside for emergency.

I have no interest in a huge house. Just one with what we need in an area that continues to appreciate. So I could sell that one for a profit too someday, if necessary.

Huge no. Big yes.
I used to think a big house was what I wanted too...until I rented a few. We never use our basement, and it's finished. In our old house, we had this huge upstairs we never spent any time in. I used to want a big bathroom...but come on now, it's not like I'm going to use that area to write a novel in, or hang out in. Keep the bathroom a regular size, and make the living room a bit bigger.

What about you folks...is a huge house something you aspire to some day?
good lord no

i dont see any sense to it.

i built my "dream house". its about 1200 sq feet. all paid for, no need to buy extra furnishings to fill it out.

Why do you care? If they're willing to spend so much money on an unnecessarily enormous penis exte... I mean, house, then leave them to it. So long as they keep paying their taxes and don't deliberately throw bricks at passers by, it's up to them.

As for not happening in Britain, that's not entirely true. The houses aren't nearly as large, true, but they are becoming just as extravagant and flamboyant nevertheless. Some of the new houses around here could basically be called miniature mansions. I personally think they look daft, but who am I to argue with a £300,000 price tag? Doesn't bother me. Their house might do a better job of pretending to be old, but even though my house looks like nothing more than a box made out of bricks, I still have some money.

Who would take that chance anymore in today's uncertain times? Do people really feel that secure in their jobs that they are willing to go so extremely into debt? I don't. People seem addicted to debt. Dumbasses. The same shit happened in the late 70s, and when oil prices bottomed out, lots of people lost their homes and savings.
Speak for yourself about job security. When it comes to debt, a mortgage is generally pretty good debt. Even a second mortgage isn't bad, if you're using it for improvements.

Personally, I'm looking forward to the day when we pay off the loan (10 years to go) on our 1800 sf two-story and can live at the lake full-time. Everything I do financially has debt reduction and retirement in the forefront of the decision.

I used to think a big house was what I wanted too...until I rented a few. We never use our basement, and it's finished. In our old house, we had this huge upstairs we never spent any time in. I used to want a big bathroom...but come on now, it's not like I'm going to use that area to write a novel in, or hang out in. Keep the bathroom a regular size, and make the living room a bit bigger.
Well I grew up in what used to be grandpa's farm, but the first 3 years or so were in a small house in town.

With the fourth kid underway and grandpa needing more attention it was a very good idea to have more space AND be able to look after grandpa while letting him keep his own space as well.

I want kids, so I want a big house :)

Yes, but vaulted ceilings don't really give you more space. The design of these houses is absurd. I've seen much smaller homes that actually tend to have more living space because they are designed with that in mind.
The illusion of space can be as important as the actual space.

Why do you care?
The same reason I care that people are still buying huge gass-guzzling vehicles, or doing other stupid things. It baffles me, and I'd like to understand it.

Well I grew up in what used to be grandpa's farm, but the first 3 years or so were in a small house in town.

With the fourth kid underway and grandpa needing more attention it was a very good idea to have more space AND be able to look after grandpa while letting him keep his own space as well.

I want kids, so I want a big house :)
Most of the farm houses around here are added to as the families grow. They end up being pretty rambling structures after the different rooms and halls are added to accomodate the extra children and families. I think it makes them a lot more desireable than the tract houses that are going up much too close.

"Why do people go ga-ga over huge houses?"

Because those who don't have them, as well as many of those who do, view them as a sign of "having arrived." Just where they have "arrived" is open to debate.

The same reason I care that people are still buying huge gass-guzzling vehicles, or doing other stupid things. It baffles me, and I'd like to understand it.

As mentioned above, it's pretty simple really. Status. That's all it's about. I don't know if you've noticed, but recently, nearly everybody has been trying to live as though they were richer than they actually are. Ever wonder why the word 'yuppy' isn't used very much anymore? 'Cause everyone's a yuppy! Even in the most poverty-stricken areas of the country, you'll still see kids wandering around with high-spec mobile phones and designer clothes. Why? Because you're nobody without such things. Or so we're told.

And I have a feeling that the same thing would have happened a hundred years ago. The only reason it didn't was because it was beyond the abilities of most people. These days there are a lot more people with a lot more time and money on their hands. Plus, we now have widely-available credit cards and other easy-to-acquire loans.

I'd like to blame the evil corporations of megadoom for convincing everybody that they need to spend beyond their means for the sake of appearance, but I think they're just capitalising on something that was already there. Greed and vanity.

I'd like to blame the evil corporations of megadoom for convincing everybody that they need to spend beyond their means for the sake of appearance, but I think they're just capitalising on something that was already there. Greed and vanity.
Agreed. People are much more comfortable with debt these days, and I think that's dangerous. Most people live on credit. Don't they see how shaky THAT foundation is? I guess though, if you grow up thinking it's normal...it becomes normal.

People like to have space. Thats why they're uncomfortable when you crowd them in. People like space for the same reason all animals have a territorial imperative of some kind. Naturalistically, humans are used to FAR less population density. Hunter-gatherers, for example, have on average what, 1, 2 square miles per person? Now, it's true that they also live in close-knit family groups... but then one can also say people with big houses also do as well. The fact is, we as humans are forced by economics and civilization's nature itself to live in, and accept the reality of, never having much more than maybe ten or twenty yards square to call their own. A little plot in the jungle; a cell in the prison. To be accustomed to that isn't something to be incouraged, we should ALL be striving to get a nice big house!

Status Schmatus

to quote a local band:
"Is there blue blood running through your veins? Well it will run red when you fall"

When I was younger I used to want a big house, now that I am older reality has set in, I don't want to have to pay for a big house, much less clean/heat/take care of it.

I am looking to buy my first house in the next 2 years, I am looking for something small, but with a good floor plan.

The houses around here that were built in the 1950's are most often what I am looking for in a house, large living area, medium bedrooms, fair sized kitchen, good construction, and cheap.

I plan to buy a house with a good working frame and then make it into what I want.

The fact that I haven't found any newly constructed homes that fit into my vision helped with the decision. I don't like open floor plans, and I am sure not going to pay more than $500,000 for a house that would need to be completely remodeled.

Well here in the states its a class issue. Although I am in Morocco alot and can tell you that the average home in Morocco is about 3000 sq ft. But that is because of cheap building materials. They also tend to build up rather than out. The average footprint there is about 1000 sq ft. Europe though I find the opposite in the cities. Homes seemed very small to me. Although out in the country side it seems that homes are on par with anywhere else.

The average footprint there is about 1000 sq ft. Europe though I find the opposite in the cities. Homes seemed very small to me. Although out in the country side it seems that homes are on par with anywhere else.

That's mostly because of space limitations. Most European cities are pretty old, and don't have the luxury of having been designed more recently to maximise space. Eventually they're going to have to start building 'up', but for the meantime we get to suffer extortionate property prices if we want to live near where we work. Which is a requirement, by the way, because European governments are so insistent on making people use public transport by pricing everybody off the road. But I'd like to see anybody try and catch a bus or a train out in the sticks. Am I ranting? Oh yes, sorry. Carry on.

Not I. I’m quite happy with my 1700 sq ft house. When I went to get preapproved for a mortgage, they told me I could be approved for something like 225k. when I told the guy I only wanted a 100k mortgage, he looked at me like I was nuts. Apparently saving for a down payment is no longer in vogue. If I stay put, it will be paid off before my oldest goes off to college.

The new McMansions they are building here are all on 1/3 acre lots that used to be farmland. No trees, no character to the neighborhoods at all – just the max number of building lots a developer could subdivide a piece of land into.. Who the hell wants to look out their ceiling to floor windows right into their neighbors ceiling to floor windows? I’ll take my “smaller” house on a lot twice that size that backs up to woods, thank you.

My house is 1305 square feet. And I really could use more space for my books. Too many books? Never enough books...

And the house is much smaller than what I grew up in. My parents had a big two-story house with attice and finished basement, and a huge yard, which I had to mow and shovel snow off of.

Wish I had that house...sigh...

Not I. I’m quite happy with my 1700 sq ft house. When I went to get preapproved for a mortgage, they told me I could be approved for something like 225k. when I told the guy I only wanted a 100k mortgage, he looked at me like I was nuts. Apparently saving for a down payment is no longer in vogue. If I stay put, it will be paid off before my oldest goes off to college.

The new McMansions they are building here are all on 1/3 acre lots that used to be farmland. No trees, no character to the neighborhoods at all – just the max number of building lots a developer could subdivide a piece of land into.. Who the hell wants to look out their ceiling to floor windows right into their neighbors ceiling to floor windows? I’ll take my “smaller” house on a lot twice that size that backs up to woods, thank you.


In most areas of the US over the past 10 years, there's been a huge appreciation in value of homes.

So the logic goes like this. Get into as big a house as you can afford - don't worry - the house will double in value in 10 years.

In some areas, just purchasing a home and reselling it 10 years later for double its value is a means of making a living.

Works until the market drops out, but the US housing market hasn't really had a national downturn since the 1950s. It only goes up for now. That's why he looked at you like you were crazy - you were buying a house to live in.

It's because big houses are owned by rich people and rich people are supposed to be awesome compared to us mere proles. To me, it's just wood or bricks, really, but apparently, an upper class home is awesome to some people.

That's mostly because of space limitations. Most European cities are pretty old, and don't have the luxury of having been designed more recently to maximise space. Eventually they're going to have to start building 'up', but for the meantime we get to suffer extortionate property prices if we want to live near where we work. Which is a requirement, by the way, because European governments are so insistent on making people use public transport by pricing everybody off the road. But I'd like to see anybody try and catch a bus or a train out in the sticks. Am I ranting? Oh yes, sorry. Carry on.


Ahh yes the public transportation. Yes there are local and state governments here in the states that want the same thing. They point to some European cities and say "isnt that great, everyone is using public transportation." However they fail to mention that the average family will not be able to afford the housing costs in such an enviroment.

I've lived in both the energy-efficient types with a basement, and the spacious, open two-story ones. I most definitely prefer the latter, after having lived in one for so long. It wasn't a huge house by any means - 4 total bedrooms - but especially in the downstairs every area of the house was easily within view of the huge windows that spanned most of the back walls. It definitely made the house feel more spacious and well-lit. Who cares if it probably made heating costs quite heftier? It certainly covered some of that cost with decreased lighting costs, and overall gave the home a much better feel. Now that I am typing this in a college dorm room, I miss my home :( .

In a home, I'll probably end up getting started with something a little more simple, but I'd love to end up living in a home like the one from my youth. Of course, to do that I will probably need to be back in the South again, which may not happen.

A fortunate friend of mine was able to land a good-paying job in hospital billing software (IDX), and telecommute from home. As a result, he was able to buy a house out in the boonies near the Canadian border (Everson, WA) for about half of what he'd pay in suburban Seattle. Two kids and 10 acres and only needing to drive to Seattle (2 hours and change) once a week. Nice work if you can get it. As a music teacher, I can't get it, so I remain envious of my friend's telecommute.

One downside is that he moved so far away from all of his friends and now whines when we don't visit nearly as often as we used to...especialy when a visit usually means staying the night. I've got no problem with that, but not every weekend.

If I had my vision come true, the US would have trains like Japan has trains. I was in Kobe for six weeks in the summer of 1990, and I was never more than a mile walk from a local train station. If I missed one, the next one would come in five minutes. If US cities could all be that centralized and built around that kind of efficient rail service, I'd sell my car tomorrow.

As for the vaulted ceilings and shameful wastes of space, I'm just glad I don't have to heat them, but that's a drain on energy and resources. I don't even think taxing "wasted space" would solve the issue, as the wealthy tend to be able to find loopholes and other ways around many taxes. I agree that something must be done about the energy complacency we have here in the US.

In most areas of the US over the past 10 years, there's been a huge appreciation in value of homes.

So the logic goes like this. Get into as big a house as you can afford - don't worry - the house will double in value in 10 years.

In some areas, just purchasing a home and reselling it 10 years later for double its value is a means of making a living.

Works until the market drops out, but the US housing market hasn't really had a national downturn since the 1950s. It only goes up for now. That's why he looked at you like you were crazy - you were buying a house to live in.

well, it seemed to me that a better real estate investment would be buying some acreage and selling it to a developer. that's what will get me the vacation house!

The average size of houses these days by far outdo houses of the past.

Im just curious if you actually have the data to back this up before I decide this is worth responding to. You made an empirical statement here, where is the data you used to established this? It sounds suspiciously like another one of those made up on the spot statistics to me (although at least this time you didnt give numbers so it wouldnt be as easy to spot).

well, it seemed to me that a better real estate investment would be buying some acreage and selling it to a developer. that's what will get me the vacation house!
I agree with this. I've bought land twice, thinking I was going to build there...upon changing my mind I made a nice profit flipping them back on to the market. The first time I made $7000 after about four months...the second time we held onto the land for a bit over a year and sold it at a $15,000 profit. *sigh* If only that money hadn't evaporated...

Im just curious if you actually have the data to back this up before I decide this is worth responding to. You made an empirical statement here, where is the data you used to established this? It sounds suspiciously like another one of those made up on the spot statistics to me (although at least this time you didnt give numbers so it wouldnt be as easy to spot).
It's not a stat. It's an observation based on houses built around the 40s - late 60s in the areas I've lived. All these houses are built for maximum living space, but the homes themselves are not that big. The floor plans make more sense, however...no vaulted ceilings and such. The houses built in the 70s and 80s are a bit bigger, and you start to see more split-levels instead of full storey splits, though the space doesn't really serve any purpose. But it's the houses being built now, and from about 10 years back that seem to have the most square feet...and oddly enough, less living room than the older houses.

Oh, and the old houses are not great in terms of R factor (insulation, energy efficiency), but the new houses, despite being built with more energy efficient materials tend to equal, if not surpass their energy waste. The open-floor plans account for a lot of this.

Im just curious if you actually have the data to back this up before I decide this is worth responding to. You made an empirical statement here, where is the data you used to established this? It sounds suspiciously like another one of those made up on the spot statistics to me (although at least this time you didnt give numbers so it wouldnt be as easy to spot).
I work in an architectural office. New construction is definately outsized. Even manufactured homes (what we used to call mobiles...) are now pushing the 3000sf envelope. The only thing holding most building back is lot size.

OTOH, I'm (mostly) happy with my $70k, 2100sf (1400sf finished, 700sf basement) townhouse/condo. I would like a garage, but that's about it. If I were building new, I certainly wouldn't be building anything larger than 2500sf or so (if you don't count the 100ft underground shooting lane.... :D )

If I were building new, I certainly wouldn't be building anything larger than 2500sf or so (if you don't count the 100ft underground shooting lane.... :D )
That's the thing...when I first started dreaming about having a house, I dreamt really, really big. Part of that is because I grew up in a one storey farm house where I had a loft-bedroom (as in can't stand up in it loft) and my brothers slept in bunkbeds in a porch my dad built off the back. My parents slept in the living room. So I wanted SPACE!

But I've moved around, and lived in a number of different houses. I have found that I now favour a main-floor and basement plan, rather than a third level, and only because I know once my kids get older, they'll want the basement for their own. Finished or not, we won't use the basement otherwise. I want a comfortable size for a living room, and big enough kitchen so that two people can cook in it at once, and some sort of dining room area, though it can be part of the kitchen too. I no longer want a huge bedroom...I don't spend a lot of time in there, or at least...I don't need much space. The bathrooms can be smallish...again, I'm not spending much time in there, and we aren't the type of family that like to share the bathroom space. No double sinks and all that. I'd prefer a modest-sized house, and a larger pacel of land, frankly. Barring that, a modest-sized house and a cabin (not a fancy one, one we'd build by hand) in the bush.

Like I said...I don't plan on showcasing my home. I am not actually that comfortable with having people over...I prefer to go out. Home is where I laze about, reading books, playing with my kids, or sleeping. It isn't an art gallery, a museum, a restaurant or a club. The space I need should be functional. I don't care if it doesn't resell for a huge profit...I'd rather pay it off quickly, and LIVE NOW. I don't plan on leaving SHIT for my kids, other than a good education anyway:)

space. No double sinks and all that. I'd prefer a modest-sized house, and a larger pacel of land, frankly. Barring that, a modest-sized house and a cabin (not a fancy one, one we'd build by hand) in the bush. What about the underground shooting lane? Makes an excellent bolt-hole/emergency egress too... :D

Fortunately, the McMansion phenom does have its counter-culture.

Here is an excellent site on efficient living: http://www.notsobighouse.com/

A bunch of Sarah Susanka's books: http://www.notsobighouse.com/books.asp

The average size of houses these days by far outdo houses of the past. And building materials are very expensive. I'm not even talking about more living space though...we have homes with huge vaulted ceilings in the entrance, a place you don't generally hang out in much. Spacious living rooms with vaulted ceilings rather than two storeys, dining rooms big enough to fit an 11 foot table, china cupboard and assorted artwork. And what's worse, all this space is claimed by two, sometimes four or five people at the most.

It's not just the upper class building these houses...no...those houses are even more extravagant and wasteful. The middle class is getting into hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt for these ridiculous 'homes'. When did we start treating our homes like ornaments? Are you actually ever going to sit on that chaise lounge beside that antique plant stand in the hallway? Probably not. So why the hell did you spend three grand on the set? Just for show! Do you really need four hundred square feet for your roman-style bathtub? Come on now...you work ten hour days...do you really use that tub often enough to justify it?

I don't want a big, stupid, art gallery for a home. I want space that is useful, comfortable, and energy efficient. I'm not one to host dinner parties or murder mysteries...I LIVE in my home. What the hell are people thinking these days?


I won't lie. I aspire to a gigantic house and I currently live alone. I'm crazy like that.

It's because big houses are owned by rich people and rich people are supposed to be awesome compared to us mere proles. To me, it's just wood or bricks, really, but apparently, an upper class home is awesome to some people.
Interesting you should mention that. When I was making the big bucks working for Exxon, we owned a 2,600 sq. foot under heat, with a three-car attached garage on a little over 1/2 acre. It was a major pain in the ass and I never want to own another one unless I can also afford to pay someone else to keep the damned thing maintained.

Interesting you should mention that. When I was making the big bucks working for Exxon, we owned a 2,600 sq. foot under heat, with a three-car attached garage on a little over 1/2 acre. It was a major pain in the ass and I never want to own another one unless I can also afford to pay someone else to keep the damned thing maintained.
Some of these houses I see, in this tiny little town of mine, I happen to know for a fact are lived in by one, or two people. And I can't help thinking that they must have to hire someone to dust the place...because all that open space, and just two people to move around in it is not enough to keep the dust from settling. That would just annoy me. Dusting the house all the time I mean.

Don't they get lonely in those big, empty houses? Is that why they buy more stuff to surround themselves with? Maybe they don't see it this way, but I think it would make me sad.

I won't lie. I aspire to a gigantic house and I currently live alone. I'm crazy like that.
Give me a home with five, six, seven or more people...as long as I have a little corner of personal space I'm happy. I've lived by myself only once, and I really hated it. It was creepy.

But different strokes for different folks...and you take that in the spirit it was meant:).

What about the underground shooting lane? Makes an excellent bolt-hole/emergency egress too... :D I do actually like the idea...I always wanted to build in a secret panel or a secret exit...seriously...that would rock!

Fortunately, the McMansion phenom does have its counter-culture.

Here is an excellent site on efficient living: http://www.notsobighouse.com/

A bunch of Sarah Susanka's books: http://www.notsobighouse.com/books.asp
Ooooh! Thank you very much for these sites! BOOKMARKED! (I think I may order a book...we've been looking at floor plans and none of them really suit what we want.)

Some of these houses I see, in this tiny little town of mine, I happen to know for a fact are lived in by one, or two people. And I can't help thinking that they must have to hire someone to dust the place...because all that open space, and just two people to move around in it is not enough to keep the dust from settling. That would just annoy me. Dusting the house all the time I mean.

Don't they get lonely in those big, empty houses? Is that why they buy more stuff to surround themselves with? Maybe they don't see it this way, but I think it would make me sad.


More likely they need all the extra room for the orgies they hold 3 nights a week- all the people sneak in the back door after you're tucked in for the night.

More likely they need all the extra room for the orgies they hold 3 nights a week- all the people sneak in the back door after you're tucked in for the night.
Damnit! That's exactly what I'm looking for...maybe I should just show up at their back door one evening???

Yeah....no. I might get shot.

Our house was built in 1899. Of course, there's not much space in Alameda, so it's not particularly huge.

I wouldn't want to live in a large house. Too much work to keep up, unless you pay somebody to do it for you, and I'll never have that kind of money. I want to live in a small house or a flat in the City when I get my own place (unfortunately, even that is prohibitivly expensive). Large houses are depressingly empty unless they're full of people.

Damnit! That's exactly what I'm looking for...maybe I should just show up at their back door one evening???

Yeah....no. I might get shot.

Not if you leave clothes at home.

I would live in a big house. If it was mostly underground, had lots of secret passages and rooms, twisting corridors, and a escape pod. And decorated in a Star Warsy empire theme.

Otherwise it's just a waste.

Some of these houses I see, in this tiny little town of mine, I happen to know for a fact are lived in by one, or two people. And I can't help thinking that they must have to hire someone to dust the place...because all that open space, and just two people to move around in it is not enough to keep the dust from settling. That would just annoy me. Dusting the house all the time I mean.

Don't they get lonely in those big, empty houses? Is that why they buy more stuff to surround themselves with? Maybe they don't see it this way, but I think it would make me sad.
Some of those folks, I would imagine, had kids at home at one time or another. That's why we had such a big home in the first place. I would have been much happier with a smaller one, but we wanted all the kids to have their own rooms. As a matter of fact, that was one of the bones of contention between my ex and me ... what to do with that enormous house when the kids started to move out. I wanted to sell it and move someplace smaller, and she wanted to keep it so the kids "will have a place to live." Screw that! :p

Not if you leave clothes at home.
You don't know this town. People here are scarily religious...they might think I'm a witch who lost her broom and burn me at the stake or something. I'll keep my dirty intentions to myself. At least in town.

Some of those folks, I would imagine, had kids at home at one time or another. Oh no...that's the sad thing. The people building these houses NOW (in town at least) are moving from the home they raised their kids in, to this big empty mini-mansion...or they are a younger professional couple who do not intend to have more than one child, if they have any children at all. I wonder if their kid ever gets lost for a couple of days in there?

And I honestly don't buy that all these people building these huge houses are doing it for 'their kids'. It's an extension of their big SUV:)

I do actually like the idea...I always wanted to build in a secret panel or a secret exit...seriously...that would rock!

It's really easy to do if you are building on a fresh lot.

When you excavate for the foundation, just trench out about 100' and lay 5' ID concrete culvert (wrapped with impervious poly). Put a standard concrete crypt at the far end and build a shed over it. Hide the entry hole with a steel "Jobox" that has its bottom cut out and is bolted to the floor. Hide the shed behind some shrubs and keep a getaway vehicle inside. If you put railroad ties and a sand-trap in the crypt, you can use the culvert as an underground shooting lane. It can also be used as a part of a whole-house cooling system in hot climates by drawing the cool subterranian air through the tube into the house. (no, I haven't thought this out... :p )
Ooooh! Thank you very much for these sites! BOOKMARKED! (I think I may order a book...we've been looking at floor plans and none of them really suit what we want.) If you are interested in some solar designs, TG me with your email. I have a little sample book I can send you.

I've lived most of my life about 70 miles north of NYC. For the past five years it seems like every inch of open space is being developed into postage stamp size lots with post-modern mansions. I don't understand why people want to move to "deerfield estates" when the estates have destroyed the deer fields. Perhaps it's because they were paying outrageous amounts of money to live in tiny little apartments in Manhattan and now they can buy a great big house surrounded by grass instead of concrete for less money than their previous rent. As Einstein observed, everything is relative.

You don't know this town. People here are scarily religious...they might think I'm a witch who lost her broom and burn me at the stake or something. I'll keep my dirty intentions to myself. At least in town.

But dirty intentions are so much more fun when they're shared :(

That sucks that people in your town are so anti-fun.