First Time Home Buyers

“You know you have reached perfection of design not when you have nothing more to add, but when you have nothing more to take away.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

In the 1950’s, the average home size was around 1,000sq ft. But by the turn of the 21^st century, that number doubled to almost 2,500sq ft, despite the fact that family size in the US had actually declined.

Then the recession came, and by 2008, many families were forced to do more with less: less income, fewer work hours, and smaller homes.  But as the saying goes, “A door is never shut where a window is not opened,” some Americans found that “sizing down” had its benefits, and as the housing market begins to recover once again, many families are purposely choosing this lifestyle and selecting smaller floor plans.

The benefits of simple living in smaller spaces is not always obvious.  Sure, most homeowners are aware that smaller homes mean a smaller mortgage upfront.  But few think of the time, social, and environmental benefits of smaller living.  If you’ve never considered downsizing your home, or if you are trying to decide what size home to purchase, consider these benefits of homes with smaller square footage:

• Smaller homes force out the excess clutter.  Living in a small home creates a mentality of keeping only what is needed or important.  Generally, homeowners have to choose to keep only what is “useful or beautiful.” This forces homeowners to buy less, carefully consider all purchases, and purge unneeded items in order to make the most of their square footage.
• Smaller homes are easier to clean.  Homeowners of small spaces will tell you that having a small home means less time vacuuming large floors, cleaning multiple bathrooms, and scrubbing miles of counter top.  Because everything has its place, homeowners tend to feel more organized, and are able to find and put away items more quickly.  That means less time spent cleaning up, and more free time to spend recreationally.
• Smaller homes are more energy efficient.  Smaller spaces mean less energy to heat and cool the home, which means a smaller carbon footprint, and lower utility bills.  Small square footage, when paired with energy efficient appliances, quality insulation, and energy efficient building practices, can save homeowners thousands over the life of their residency.
• Smaller homes have lower property tax.  Because assessed property value takes into account the square footage of the home and the lot, generally smaller homes have lower property taxes.
• Small homes force us to get out.  Living in a smaller space encourages homeowners to make the most of their surrounding community, parks, and local recreation.  When there’s not a separate room in the house for each person to watch their own TV program, family members are forced to come up with other ways to entertain themselves, often together.
• Small homes promote family time.  Sharing a small space can promote togetherness.  After all, a smaller home means a singular space for homework, dinner, and family time.  Sharing a room can bring siblings closer together, and shared family spaces can help spark interaction among family members.
• Smaller homes are generally designed well.  Because every detail needs to be thought out from storage space to floor plan design, smaller homes promote innovative design.  Space limitations challenge creativity and versatility: a nook becomes a reading corner, a closet becomes a home office, and a kitchen island becomes a butcher block for food preparation.
• Small homes are cheaper to maintain.  Roofing, painting, and maintaining a 2,500 sq ft home can become a small investment.  Smaller homes have lower costs to maintain and often allow a homeowner to tackle the project him/herself, because the square footage of the project is less overwhelming.
• Small homes are cheaper to build, and cost less to upgrade.  Most houses are priced by square footage, meaning that the overall cost to build a smaller home is less.  Less home means less concrete, wood, flooring, ducting, and roofing. In addition, homeowners can opt for higher-grade materials—such as granite counter tops or travertine flooring—because the square footage of the kitchens and bathrooms are dramatically lower, driving costs down.

Downsizing requires homeowners to rethink their way of living and simplify their home life.  But this endeavor can ultimately lead to a higher quality of life because it frees up time, money, and stress, while giving homeowners a chance to bond closer with their community and family.

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