CAR, I agree with you that most young families today think they need more space. They often have 3+ vehicles and way more “stuff” than families in previous generations had.
But I don’t see families today buying the bigger lots. They currently seem to be shunning the bigger lots and purchasing the substandard =<5000 sf lot or the PUD on a zero lot line. At least that is what is happening in South County. If I had a dime for every Pigg here who has inquired about CV (92130), I would also say this is happening in other parts of the county as well. The "quintessential 3-vehicle young family" just seems content to leave one vehicle on the street and park their other two in their short driveway hanging out into (or beyond) the sidewalk. Their garage is used for storage of "stuff."
HOWEVER, I don't agree with you that families HAVE to choose the 'burbs or far-flung "urban sprawl" in order to obtain a large lot. There are many 10,000-20,000+ SF lots in urban San Diego (<20 mi. from dtn) in nearly every zip code: 92101, 92102, 92103, 92104, 92106, 92107, 92109 (few), 92111 (few), 92113, 92114, 92115, 92116 (few), 92117 (few), 92118 (Cor), 92119, 92120, 92122, 92139, 92154 (few) and 92037. In addition, NC 91950 (4-8 mi. away) has many large lots 1 AC+. Chula Vista 10-13 miles away (91910 and 91911) have many large lots (91910 up to 4 AC). Bonita 91902 (12-16 mi) has many 1/2 AC+ lots and a few 1-4 AC lots. La Mesa 91941 (13-16 mi.) has many 1/2 AC+ lots. Lemon Grove 91945 (10-12 mi.) has many 12,000 – 20,000+ lots.
Going 20-25 miles out from dtn SD (“suburbia”) opens up a few more “large lot” possibilities to the east and northeast.
There seems to be a HUGE misconception out there as many of these areas now seem to be so “undesirable” to a lot of young families that they never even bothered to explore them when they were house-hunting. In my day, these areas were HIGHLY DESIRABLE (yes, even 92113 and 92114 to dtn. workers). Hence, the current “urban defectors” now have 20-40 year bonds (and in the majority of cases, HOA dues) to pay for the entire length of their homeownership because of their choices to buy properties towards, into or beyond the “urban sprawl.” And have no lot with which to park their vehicles and “stuff” on for all the extra fees and taxes they are paying.
Perhaps young families today feel some of the communities heretofore mentioned are too “cost prohibitive” to buy into for the living space they think they need. Piggs, you gotta ask yourselves, “Why is this so?”
As I’ve stated before, a “square-footage” problem can always be fixed but a (tiny) lot (purchased out in BFE) cannot :={
