[quote=Eugene][quote=briansd1]The suburbs and exurbs are an American phenomenon. For the younger globalized generations, I foresee a trend to “glamour cities” as Robert Shiller calls them. We will see in 50 years.[/quote]

I’m not sure what our younger globalized generations are going to pick up from their interactions with their foreign peers, but, in UK anyway, the “house and garden” has always been considered the arrangement to aspire to. Most people can’t afford them, because all major cities are built out wall to wall with apartments and townhouses, but it is absolutely not the case that Europeans love living in apartments.[/quote]

FWIW, on my recent trip to San Francisco (the “NYC” of the west coast), I visited three different single family homes in the City. Believe it or not, ALL had back yards. The home in the Sunset District had a large backyard and the owner had 3 large dogs. I would surmise the lot was AT LEAST 5000 sf. The grassy backyard was very well landscaped and had a large uncrowded trex deck with chaises, round umbrella dinette and gas BBQ.

Looks can be deceiving from the street when every home on the block is a “walkup” situated less than one foot from its neighbor.