Square footage per person in a residential home?

[Sigarms]

Heck Joe, I live in this all by myself. I would think with 3 of you you would need more than 2000. But I guess it's all in what you want and think is large enough.
View attachment 1511089

It's going to come down to legwork on end to look.

By accident found a for sale this past week driving and fits the bill when I looked at it online.

Single level, 1,800 sq feet, built in 1995, but brick.

Just irritates me that it more than doubled in price when it sold back in 2021, only 3 years ago.

That said we're blessed that everything is paid off on our place and we could actually move first, and then sell our old home if needed because that would make life lot easier.

Keep in mind my wife is set on 1,500 sq ft, so it's going to take legwork on our end for her to see if she can find what she wants.

When was the pic taken? Snow in Alabama? LOL

Although not a huge selling factor, if you have kids and buy our place, you'll have the best hill locally for sledding right behind the house LOL

 

[Sigarms]

I've spent over 20 years making this place my home and if I decide we need to down size I'll simply close a couple of doors. Sorry if this idea doesn't fit the norm but we have worked to long and to hard around here. But different strokes for different folks you know

We got married late in our late 30's with no kids.

Our current home fulfilled everything we had hoped for with my father living with us for 4 years and raising 2 boys.

My father loved living in the furnished basement, but now only his cat lives down there and she doesn't get along with our other cat so the basement is basically closed off.

It would truly be great to close off a couple of doors on our end, but we have a furnished basement, 1st floor and second story (for 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths).

Heck, we even though about turning the garage into a 1 bedroom 1 bath so we could live on the first level, but at the end of the day, having 3 HVAC systems (one for each level) our place isn't inexpensive to live for cooling season. The other issue is maintaining the land. Reality is I can't work like I use to outside, and until I get my shoulder replaced (which I've been putting off), chainsaw time has become non existent on my end and weedwacker time has easily been cut in half.

We also spent a decent sum to completely refinish the upstairs bathrooms and it would seem like a sin not utilize them (my wife just came back from being out of state for her job, and she said the same thing I do... anytime we're traveling and staying at hotels, we like our master bathroom better than any hotel we stay at, and that never was the case until we made those changes LOL).

Everyone's journey in life is different, and yes, I do agree with your comment about "different strokes for different folks".

 

[Sigarms]

Today the average home is 2,400 sq.ft., two car garage, 2 cars in the driveway, both parents have full time jobs, no savings in the bank and a couple of paycheques away from foreclosure.

The only debt is taxes, food and utilities now.

We both still work full time and my we're both blessed that my wife works from the office in the home and I get to make my own work schedule.

We're blessed that we could perhaps just buy another home and then sell, but now that my wife and I are actually talking about retirement, we don't want to get "spend happy" with what we have saved for over the last 20 years. Although my wife and I are really different in a lot of aspects, both sets of our parents raised us pretty much the same.

The best thing about selling in a sellers market is you can get top dollar. The worst thing about buying in a sellers market is you're going to pay top dollar.

 

[Sigarms]

I would not worry so much about square footage. I would make sure you had 2 big baths, a 1/2 bath, doorways big enough for wheel chair to get through

Having my father move in with us when he was 86 was a blessing in many ways.

One thing we didn't foresee is how much he taught us in what to look for in a home is when you get old, particularly when he hit 90 and he relied on us for a lot of things.

Doorways for wheel chairs is up at the top of the list.

 

[woody]

Years ago I put a wheel chair ramp on our house at the time it was for our parents that were getting older and having problems but I think now I use it more than they did or do (some are no longer with us). With all the upstairs and down stairs you have I completely understand you down sizing and not just closing off some space. After my Stepmom passed away my Dad decided to down size so he sold some stuff, gave away what didn't sell and moved in with my brother, he stays there some and here with us some and yes we are still learning from him or through him might be a better way of saying it. My in-laws live just through the woods and we have inherited their chores as they can barley take care of their day to day stuff. Sorry for the rambling guess I needed it. Good luck

 

[Huntinguy]

The other consideration is... do you have any pack rats in the family...
Seriously, people don't really need much space. Their stuff needs space.
It is amazing how much can be packed into 2,400 sqft. If you don't mind not being able to walk through the place. Like, really, do I really need 8 day packs???
We only dropped down 500 ft in to our new place. We have given away enough to completely fill a second house though.
Now, psychology speaking, there is a minimum square footage for mental health... I don't recall off hand. I think it is around 500-600 sqft range. I read it somewhere in a discussion on tiny houses.

 

[paulsharvey]

We had 1400 sq ft for 5 people, 3/2. It lacked much storage, but it was functional. Now, we are right at 2000 sq ft; 4/3; 5 people. Still not much storage, but a bit better.

When you remove wasted rooms, like a dinning room, den, ect, you dont need as much sq ft.

A think a large porch makes up somewhat for a smaller home too. Also good out buildings, atleast humidity controlled, also make up for home square footage.

Addition; Bed rooms don't really need to be large, enought room for a king sized, 2 end tables, 2 dressers, and a wall mount TV, for a master; a queen and a single end table, 1 dresser and a wall mount Tv for secondary rooms. You can make a 10x12 bedroom work for kids/guests, and a 3x10 closet. Typical secondary bathroom is 5x8, so that doesn't take much at all; a bit bigger, maybe 8x10 is less cramped feeling. Master bath, the norm now is a 4x4 shower, 2 hole sink, and garden tub, which takes atleast 8x10

 

[riptides]

We had 1k for 5 people when remodeling the farm house. Then we all moved into 3.5k. As the kids left we rented out the 1k. Now we have finished an addional building remodel at 400sqft. The plans could be to move back into the 1k...then if needed the 400sqft.
As another poster noted....it is not really size that matters...it is stuff.

If the layouts are right 400sqft is nice...but stuff quickly makes it unworkable.

Less stuff...matters.

I am all about...less stuff.

 

[Sigarms]

Well, went to look at a house for the first time in close to 20 years.

It was an automatic turn off that pretty much all the walls had chips in the paint everywhere. Just really stupid stuff that wouldn't take much to fix IMO. Not certain if the homeowners care or the realtor didn't put their foot down on what should be done. Had a bonus room that had a upstairs over the garage that had carpet that was stained all over the place and kind of smelled. Even it if were me listing something like that for 420K when it was bought 4 years ago for 200k, I'd be fixing that small stuff up.

Although a ranch, the layout was funky in our opinion where the kitchen was separated from the rest of the house and all the bedrooms were on one side (I guess normal for a ranch?). Actually a very small narrow room on the other side, but it was very small, more like a one person office.

Did accomplish one thing though...

House was listed at 1898 sq ft. The bonus room was too much in our opinion, and it had 4 bedrooms. Something in the 1,500 sq ft range with 3 beds and 2 baths would be possible after looking at this house.

House had 7 acres, not much lawn though and all woods. Listed as a private driveway but there was a gate with a house at the end of the road this house was on, so it's really a shared driveway.

 

[Sigarms]

Less stuff...matters.

I am all about...less stuff.

My wife is on the same page as you, particularly since it's just her and me now.

 

[BackRoad]

You might consider adding a 1st floor bedroom/bathroom addition to your existing. The misc costs of selling and buying a different house...realestate commissions, closing fees, costs to change utilities, moving costs, costs making the new house exactly the way you want it, etc may actually end up being close to your addition build costs.

You keep the equity in your existing, make it so you can live on a single ground level floorplan, and can do it on your timing...

Like someone mentioned, just close doors for any rooms you don't end up using.

Really depends on how much you want to stay where you are.

Eventually, you could still subdivide your property if you wanted to...but you wouldn't necessarily need to.

 

[2manyrocks]

Maybe your real estate market is different. In some areas, it could be argued that it's no mans' market because of the crazy run up in prices between 2019 and today. Potential sellers look at the asking prices for homes with issues that are on the market and decide they are better off keeping what they have. This means fewer homes for sale, less competition, and a market that's generally stagnated.

 

[ultrarunner]

The key is in a functional layout...

A 1000 square feet can feel spacious and 2,000 not so.

The use of architecture to meld the inside with the outside helps.

Where I see square footage as most important are city lots with 5' to the property line... everything you do is inside then because there is no outside to speak of.

There was a time where a 3 bedroom 1000 square feet home was considered living well... bump it up to 1050 with a small master bath and 2 car garage and you arrived...

 

[Sigarms]

Eventually, you could still subdivide your property if you wanted to...but you wouldn't necessarily need to.

The way our land is laid out, subdividing wouldn't accomplish anything due to access IMO.

There is 20 acres across the creek side, but you'd have to build on a hill pretty much right along the property line.

We've looked at selling only 17 acres, and keeping the other side for ourselves (20 acres), but take the potential long term water issue on the low lying level land around the creek, and at best, you'd have to come out onto a road that is completely blind on your left side pulling out where people have a habit of speeding. I pull out of that back area with my truck after shooting, and I always get the willies and I give it gas when I turn right going back up to our house because the left side is a blind spot and people drive like idiots.

Honestly, knowing what I know about the road to access the "back land", I would NEVER want to pull out at the access point to the main road on a daily basis if that makes sense.

I've been to 3 accidents around that area in almost 20 years, hearing a wreck and having to drive there to make certain everyone is ok.

People can't always do 60MPH on a rural road.

 

[Sigarms]

The key is in a functional layout...

A 1000 square feet can feel spacious and 2,000 not so.

The use of architecture to meld the inside with the outside helps.

Where I see square footage as most important are city lots with 5' to the property line... everything you do is inside then because there is no outside to speak of.

There was a time where a 3 bedroom 1000 square feet home was considered living well... bump it up to 1050 with a small master bath and 2 car garage and you arrived...

Well said!

I talk about square footage per person living in a home and what is acceptable, and I should never EVER forget about both sets of my grandparents who came over on a boat who didn't speak english and didn't have a pot to piss in and both grandfathers working in coal mines (both died before age 50).

You made me look. This is my grandparents old place on my dads side) they got in the early 1900's.

Needless to say, the house has been renovated and today it's listed on Zillow for about 150K (the garage to the left was built after the family sold the home)

Here I am asking about about a 1,800 square house for 3 people, and my both sets of my parents had around 10 siblings which made 12 total in the family.

 

[kenmac]

It's going to come down to legwork on end to look.

By accident found a for sale this past week driving and fits the bill when I looked at it online.

Single level, 1,800 sq feet, built in 1995, but brick.

Just irritates me that it more than doubled in price when it sold back in 2021, only 3 years ago.

That said we're blessed that everything is paid off on our place and we could actually move first, and then sell our old home if needed because that would make life lot easier.

Keep in mind my wife is set on 1,500 sq ft, so it's going to take legwork on our end for her to see if she can find what she wants.

When was the pic taken? Snow in Alabama? LOL

Although not a huge selling factor, if you have kids and buy our place, you'll have the best hill locally for sledding right behind the house LOL

Snow ? LOL mostly a dusting.. We get that ever once in a while. I believe this pic was a couple yrs ago . After selling out, I had to purchase something for tax purposes so I figured this old farm / house would be a good investment. Prices were low when I purchased this place.. And due to the housing market these days, it has pretty much doubled in value.

Good luck with your search. Prices these days are out the roof around here !

 

[kenmac]

Well said!

I talk about square footage per person living in a home and what is acceptable, and I should never EVER forget about both sets of my grandparents who came over on a boat who didn't speak english and didn't have a pot to piss in and both grandfathers working in coal mines (both died before age 50).

You made me look. This is my grandparents old place on my dads side) they got in the early 1900's.

Needless to say, the house has been renovated and today it's listed on Zillow for about 150K (the garage to the left was built after the family sold the home)

View attachment 1511356

Here I am asking about about a 1,800 square house for 3 people, and my both sets of my parents had around 10 siblings which made 12 total in the family.

I noticed that window shaker !! I just couldn't resist !

 

[Sigarms]

I noticed that window shaker !! I just couldn't resist !

Keep in mind, that's Pennsylvania. Window shakers are all you really need for a month or two . That said, most houses were oil or even coal for heating. They have these things called boilers to!

Heck, when I moved to NC in June over 20 years ago, my car didn't have AC because I thought you were a wussie if you had to have AC in your car.

First month in NC and I went right back up to PA to buy a car with AC LOL

 

[kenmac]

Keep in mind, that's Pennsylvania. Window shakers are all you really need for a month or two . That said, most houses were oil or even coal for heating. They have these things called boilers to!

Heck, when I moved to NC in June over 20 years ago, my car didn't have AC because I thought you were a wussie if you had to have AC in your car.

First month in NC and I went right back up to PA to buy a car with AC LOL

I've worked on some old (converted to gas)coal burners back in the day. Steam and water boilers as well.
Have gone on many calls where some people don't know the difference in steam vs water boilers, and flooded the steam boilers with water. Water would be coming out of the radiators . Some people don't know where their limits should stop !

Can't say I've ever seen a Oil heater down here. If I had, I sure can't remember it.

I can remember not having A/C in my vehicles. As a kid, we didn't have A/C of any kind in the house !