The question I would ask is what kind of environment do YOU or YOUR family need!!

Also what is your time frame, are you close to retirement ? or just starting.

There are no set answers, but most will think their solution is best…

At worst they will apply their logic to YOUR situation. I even know people who bought at the top of the market but for them it was the best solution.

Others who did not just to lose it all in the stock market.

There is no one correct answer.

As Shoveler noted, environment, external and internal is more important.

I’ve seen 3500sf homes that burn nearly a 1000sf up in the just the master suite closet and bath, not including the bedroom. I’ve seen home layouts that makes 2500 sf seem cramped while a 1500 sf place with the same number of bed and baths seem spacious.

You need to determine what functional areas do you need. What exterior space you need and what public space and access to it you need.

For me personally, with small children now, desirability of trendy restaurants and nightlife is near zero and desirability of walk-ability, access to parks, grocery stores, libraries, old downtown areas and child friendly public space and a community garden is high.

As the OP of the Temecula thread,
I thought I could put in my two cents.

What my family has learned living in both situations (small apartments and large homes)is this:
Extra space is great for storage (all that baby gear) and play areas. A yard is great to have as well once your little one is older. However, nothing beats the great outdoors. Even if you have the biggest house- your kids will still want to go to the park with their friends. You can live in a small apartment and provided there is park access (maybe even a pool or the beach nearby) then you are going to be just fine.

Hope this helps!

I’ve lived in both types of homes and can say I’m happier in a smaller home with a larger lot. We just moved back to SoCal from North Carolina and there we had a very nice 3000sqft home (which is average to small for where we were) and here we have a 1800 sqft old house and I am happier. The kids get to spend more time outside here where as in NC it was either to hot or to cold to be outside all the time. Here since we got an older smaller home our lot is large 1/3 acre and has room for pool and grass area for kids to run. Being the one who cleans and home I’m also happier to clean a smaller space, also the cost to cool the place (even our small space here) is about triple the cost of NC. I honestly don’t understand the need or desire to have a larger home unless you live in an area where you can’t spend much time outside, but that’s just me. we have 2 kids boy and girl so they each have their own room and we have a separate office, I don’t think our house feels cramped at all. The previous owners were the original owners from the 50s and they said there were 5 kids and 2 parents that lived in our 4 bd home, now that might feel a little cramped to me.

If/when I have a family, I’d probably have 1-2 kids and raise them in an ~800 sf condo, either in Brooklyn or near Columbia University. I have no stomach for living in the suburbs during the week — I’d rather drop an extra $50k on a weekend place in Vermont or PA.

My sister has fond memories of going to Central Park with my Grandma in the 70s, and that’s when NYC was somwhat of a dump.