bigger is better

**bluebird728** · 10-13-2007, 11:45 AM

My goal is to own a smaller house, built to quality standards, with a nice yard, filled with a reasonable number of high quality items that are well cared for and last for a very long time.

This seems to be the polar opposite of the bigger is better, and buy things cheap and throw them away mentality that is so common. I really don't like the McMansions that are so common these days.

Next year I will be moving to a different state and I want to start living as I envision. I'm concerned that when it comes time for me to buy my "lifetime home" that I will have a hard time finding something that fits my needs and desires. Is buying an older home the way to go to resolve those problems? Or is building something new that is exactly what I want the better option?

**leezza** · 10-13-2007, 01:02 PM

Bluebird,

You might check out a magazine called, "Cottages" they have wonderful idea's on renovated small homes......I wouldn't want to go thru the reno but you could find one that was already done to be the way you like it. Check with a brocker in the place you are going to move and ask them to start looking for you.....be very specific on what you want and let them know all your wants I bet they can help you.

leezza : )

**gentledenny** · 10-13-2007, 02:18 PM

I agree with your ideal. I also want a small, well equiped little farm house. One reason, is i dont want the debt of the average 200,000 dollar home. Of course for 200,000 here in montgomery al. you can get a beautiful home. I am sure it would compare to a 400,000 home in altanta and probadly sell for a 1,000,000 in certain areas of california. I want a small 2 bedroom farm house probably could do with a one bedroom but might want the kids to visit from time to time.

**auntie2many** · 10-13-2007, 05:52 PM

If the funds are available and it were me, I would buy a piece of land and build the house to my liking. Older homes can cost a fortune to maintain and also to remodel. Not to mention the hassle.

**mikandmari** · 10-13-2007, 06:12 PM

It may depend on where you are moving. Some older towns will have a nice inventory of small homes. Generally, the newly built up areas tend to have more modern McMansions, and the only homes with less square footage are attached 'townhomes'. Greedy builders!

Also, towns that are more established and heavily populated may have fewer buildable lots for sale.

But if you find an older home that is well-built and well-maintained (often older people who have owned them for many years) you might just have to make cosmetic changes, which can be fun!

**annymoll** · 10-13-2007, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by mikandmari

But if you find an older home that is well-built and well-maintained (often older people who have owned them for many years) you might just have to make cosmetic changes, which can be fun!

I love homes like this.Sometimes the challenges can be more than expected(we peeled layer upon layer of wallpaper from our home-Yuck )but if you enjoy this its fun to have a quality home with some history behind it.Some of the nicks and wear add to the charm to me. Good luck on whatever you choose to do.

**PrairieRose** · 10-13-2007, 06:27 PM

If you have the energy and money to do a reno it's really very rewarding. I do have to say after doing mine (I live in the house I grew up in...bought from my parents) for seems like eons (been about 3-4 years of doing it bit by bit, doing it nicely---not going cheap) I am tired.....

I've also had a few other big things happen in the interum but still I'm tired of the mess. So what I'm saying is it is a lot of fun but I would have considered more fun to have done it all at once (although the stress might have killed me....snork). I love my old house. It's truly our 'home' .

**Droppedonmyhead** · 10-13-2007, 09:47 PM

I would just remain open to both possibilities. You can check out the available homes online in the area you wish to move to and decide if it's better to buy or build.

**Telephus44** · 10-13-2007, 09:53 PM

We have a very similar goal to yours. Our plan is to eventually build (we want a cave house) but to buy an older (like built in the 50's-60's-70's) smaller house first and stay in it long enough to pay it off. We're looking at 1500 sq ft tops, probably closer to 1200-1300 sq. feet.

**Momof4cats** · 10-14-2007, 05:24 AM

Also, with the way the housing market is going, keep an eye open for foreclosures. I'm not quite ready to buy, but I've got my eye on one right now, built in the 1970s, 1350 sq. ft. brick ranch house in a small town not far from my work. They're asking $89,900 for it. It doesn't need renovation so much as cosmetic freshening (floors, paint, new kitchen cabinets).

**Rompers1** · 10-14-2007, 10:13 AM

We have a 1970's house and I'd say our biggest problems are: outdated electric, outdated plumbing, old cedar shingles..
We've also had to replace the heater and water heater and will soon need a new roof. So my advice to find a house where the owner has already taken care of most of these issues and make sure to get the inspection (we didn't and regret it).

**wanderlusting** · 10-14-2007, 12:39 PM

Just wanted to give you this link http://www.motherearthnews.com/googl...1&h1&sa=Search

from Mother Earth News. There's lots of info on owning and buying a smaller home.

Me and DH's goal is also to own a smaller home. We'd like to have some acres to garden, have some chickens and goats. I'd much rather have land than a huge house!

**mikandmari** · 10-14-2007, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by annymoll

I love homes like this.Sometimes the challenges can be more than expected(we peeled layer upon layer of wallpaper from our home-Yuck )but if you enjoy this its fun to have a quality home with some history behind it.Some of the nicks and wear add to the charm to me. Good luck on whatever you choose to do.

I love old houses also! The new homes just seem so vanilla, especially built by developers in entire communities. They just want to maximize profits.

I had to laugh when you wrote about the wallpaper. We renovated one home that had a layer of wallpaper for each decade... it was hysterical! 90s mauve/ 80s country blue/70s brown/60 mod/50s yellow. A history lesson for my kids!

We did a complete bathroom renovation to our current home, built in 1916. We removed the old bath right down to the studs. We discovered that the walls are made from "horse hair plaster"

which was used in the old days to help bind the plaster. It was messy, but I believe that is why we have absolutely no cracks in our plaster walls after over 90 years!

**peanut** · 10-14-2007, 02:48 PM

I vote you move into a smaller home that has everything all done. You don't know when you or DH are going to peeter out over renovating. We live in an older home and DH peetered out. So now we live in a half finished older home that I just hate. My lesson for next time is that I will not move into a new home unless it is exactly what I want. I am not counting on DH to lift a finger.

For what it's worth, having a house built from scratch to your specs is more expensive than buying one and renovating, but you do end up with what you want...after a lot of hassles and builders etc. telling you you 'can't' do something, when what they really mean is they don't want to do it that way. I'm staying clear of that stress. But you might be able to keep on top of it. I just lived beside friends doing this sort of thing, and it wasn't pleasant.

Jean

**midwestgal** · 10-14-2007, 04:14 PM

I want to go smaller too. We have too much house for just two of us here in CA. Problem is, homes just are not selling here. I have my eye on just the home I want in the midwestern city we are moving to. It is an older home (built 1939) with very good bones and lots of potential. And it is priced right with a terrific location. It's smaller, cozier, and much more charming.