Source: Lauren Baier Kim – CyberHomes Blog
The trend is continuing — Americans are still downsizing, buying smaller and smaller homes, reports Cyberhomes contributor Heather Boerner.
She notes that since 2007, the average square footage of an American home has dropped from 2,541 square feet to 2,343 square feet at the close of 2008.
Why we downsize
Homeowners’ reasons for downsizing are diverse — some are looking to save on costs, others want to bring family closer together by decreasing living space, whereas others don’t want the extra room or the upkeep involved with owning a larger home, Boerner says. Her story details the experiences of several homeowners who’ve downsized in recent years.
I am not one of those homeowners looking to downsize. At 2,000-square-feet, my home often doesn’t seem large enough to meet our needs, and I’ve wished for a larger house.
But at other times, I’ve appreciated the fact that by owning a smaller house, our upkeep and costs are lower than if we’d owned a larger home. (Plus, I appreciate how our family tends to congregate in the same room in the evening — my children playing, and my husband and I reading or watching TV.) Plus, I know I wouldn’t be happy cleaning a larger house — I can hardly keep up with the housework in my current home.
Living with less
By keeping our home, hopefully we’ll be able to save for the more important things in life (than the four walls that surround us) — like a good education for our children, and fun family times together.
However, I am constantly working on improving our living areas — by packing up stuff to free them of clutter, and aiming to add entertaining/family space to our home by improving the backyard.
Other ways I imagine homeowners can find more space in their homes without actually upsizing include adding more storage, having less furniture or furniture of a smaller scale, and finishing off unfinished spaces, such as basements and attics.
Look to Boerner’s article for links to blogs and websites with tips on making small-home living work for you.
