Size of Avg. US home over time

[joec]

[quote=bearishgurl]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 :={[/quote]

Hi BG, just out of curiosity, what age bracket are you in? My wife and I in our late 30s with a young child. I’ll take a stab at why some piggs (namely me) can care less about the large lot. I grew up probably in a 15-20k lot in my parent’s house in the bay area. For us now, we really don’t care having that 10k+ lot (and we’re in a postage sized lot now) because:

1) Landscaping is expensive! The larger the lot, the more expensive to landscape it.

2) We are in door hermits. Sure, I grew up riding my bikes outside (pretty rarely in the backyard actually), rolling down the hill on a cardboard in our backyard, etc…but SD is pretty hot compared to the bay area actually and it’s foolish to sit outside a lot. Kids probably have a lot of other activities so that’s even less backyard/large lot time.

3) We’re busy! With a kid and barely enough time to get basic personal stuff done and work, chores, who has time to sit outside and enjoy the atmosphere?!?!? A lot of dual income, 1 high income folks would probably prefer to spend time indoors with their kids with the occasional park time rather than play in their backyard, big or small.

4) Lastly, being Asian and all the stereotypes that come with that, I think a lot of those zip codes are simply not on a lot of asian families list of cities to buy in. Lemon Grove, having lived in East county before is a pretty bad area having been there a few times.

5) We like NEW! Maybe the old generation has time to “fix up” the house, but like point 3 above, who has time to do a “home project?” I’d rather spend my time doing things I enjoy than fixing things around the house that’s constantly breaking in a 20 year old house…

Give me my postage stamp sized lot brand spanking new, highly energy efficient home anyday over a 20k lot 20 year fixer…

If we don’t run the AC/heat much, our power bills are in the 60-70 dollars now compared to 40-50 in a 1000 sqft apartment.

Heat seems very expensive (3 months) and we turn it on since the baby refuses to use a blanket. 🙁

[joec]

[quote=briansd1][quote=UCGal]
I have to agree with AN here. [/quote]

I also agree with AN and UCGal. Commuting is not to and from downtown anymore.

But still, I believe that people would rather buy new than old. That’s why over time, the old neighborhoods are abandoned for the new cities and suburbs. Granted, redevelopment has stopped that to some extent since the late 1990s; but families with kids are still not moving back to the city.

We need to find ways to get families to move back to the city and abandon the suburban myth. It’s interesting to me that in Europe, families prefer to live in the urban core.

IMHO, it’s better to rebuild and renew the infrastructure we already have than sprawling out to new raw land.

Maybe $10 gas will do that.[/quote]

Having lived in SF before SD, I think cities tend to favor businesses rather than families to live there. At least SF was this way. More tax dollars. City life isn’t that great neither and unless you are into going out all the time or work there, city living just gets you more bums, dog shit allover the sidewalk (in SF at least), more noise, pollution, traffic, car alarms, ambulances practically daily/nightly, partiers going home at 2am on friday nights…Parking sucks too.

no thanks…

especially for folks with families…Also, the school situation is probably random/lottery (SF is this way I think) making parents with kids hesitant rather than going to private school if they don’t get their school pick. Most would rather just move to the burbs of del mar or anywhere in the PUSD.

I suppose for some of us, I don’t see the attraction of city living at all (having lived it myself).

[joec]

[quote=briansd1][quote=UCGal]
I have to agree with AN here. [/quote]

I also agree with AN and UCGal. Commuting is not to and from downtown anymore.

But still, I believe that people would rather buy new than old. That’s why over time, the old neighborhoods are abandoned for the new cities and suburbs. Granted, redevelopment has stopped that to some extent since the late 1990s; but families with kids are still not moving back to the city.

We need to find ways to get families to move back to the city and abandon the suburban myth. It’s interesting to me that in Europe, families prefer to live in the urban core.

IMHO, it’s better to rebuild and renew the infrastructure we already have than sprawling out to new raw land.

Maybe $10 gas will do that.[/quote]

Having lived in SF before SD, I think cities tend to favor businesses rather than families to live there. At least SF was this way. More tax dollars. City life isn’t that great neither and unless you are into going out all the time or work there, city living just gets you more bums, dog shit allover the sidewalk (in SF at least), more noise, pollution, traffic, car alarms, ambulances practically daily/nightly, partiers going home at 2am on friday nights…Parking sucks too.

no thanks…

especially for folks with families…Also, the school situation is probably random/lottery (SF is this way I think) making parents with kids hesitant rather than going to private school if they don’t get their school pick. Most would rather just move to the burbs of del mar or anywhere in the PUSD.

I suppose for some of us, I don’t see the attraction of city living at all (having lived it myself).

[joec]

[quote=briansd1][quote=UCGal]
I have to agree with AN here. [/quote]

I also agree with AN and UCGal. Commuting is not to and from downtown anymore.

But still, I believe that people would rather buy new than old. That’s why over time, the old neighborhoods are abandoned for the new cities and suburbs. Granted, redevelopment has stopped that to some extent since the late 1990s; but families with kids are still not moving back to the city.

We need to find ways to get families to move back to the city and abandon the suburban myth. It’s interesting to me that in Europe, families prefer to live in the urban core.

IMHO, it’s better to rebuild and renew the infrastructure we already have than sprawling out to new raw land.

Maybe $10 gas will do that.[/quote]

Having lived in SF before SD, I think cities tend to favor businesses rather than families to live there. At least SF was this way. More tax dollars. City life isn’t that great neither and unless you are into going out all the time or work there, city living just gets you more bums, dog shit allover the sidewalk (in SF at least), more noise, pollution, traffic, car alarms, ambulances practically daily/nightly, partiers going home at 2am on friday nights…Parking sucks too.

no thanks…

especially for folks with families…Also, the school situation is probably random/lottery (SF is this way I think) making parents with kids hesitant rather than going to private school if they don’t get their school pick. Most would rather just move to the burbs of del mar or anywhere in the PUSD.

I suppose for some of us, I don’t see the attraction of city living at all (having lived it myself).

[joec]

[quote=briansd1][quote=UCGal]
I have to agree with AN here. [/quote]

I also agree with AN and UCGal. Commuting is not to and from downtown anymore.

But still, I believe that people would rather buy new than old. That’s why over time, the old neighborhoods are abandoned for the new cities and suburbs. Granted, redevelopment has stopped that to some extent since the late 1990s; but families with kids are still not moving back to the city.

We need to find ways to get families to move back to the city and abandon the suburban myth. It’s interesting to me that in Europe, families prefer to live in the urban core.

IMHO, it’s better to rebuild and renew the infrastructure we already have than sprawling out to new raw land.

Maybe $10 gas will do that.[/quote]

Having lived in SF before SD, I think cities tend to favor businesses rather than families to live there. At least SF was this way. More tax dollars. City life isn’t that great neither and unless you are into going out all the time or work there, city living just gets you more bums, dog shit allover the sidewalk (in SF at least), more noise, pollution, traffic, car alarms, ambulances practically daily/nightly, partiers going home at 2am on friday nights…Parking sucks too.

no thanks…

especially for folks with families…Also, the school situation is probably random/lottery (SF is this way I think) making parents with kids hesitant rather than going to private school if they don’t get their school pick. Most would rather just move to the burbs of del mar or anywhere in the PUSD.

I suppose for some of us, I don’t see the attraction of city living at all (having lived it myself).

[joec]

[quote=briansd1][quote=UCGal]
I have to agree with AN here. [/quote]

I also agree with AN and UCGal. Commuting is not to and from downtown anymore.

But still, I believe that people would rather buy new than old. That’s why over time, the old neighborhoods are abandoned for the new cities and suburbs. Granted, redevelopment has stopped that to some extent since the late 1990s; but families with kids are still not moving back to the city.

We need to find ways to get families to move back to the city and abandon the suburban myth. It’s interesting to me that in Europe, families prefer to live in the urban core.

IMHO, it’s better to rebuild and renew the infrastructure we already have than sprawling out to new raw land.

Maybe $10 gas will do that.[/quote]

Having lived in SF before SD, I think cities tend to favor businesses rather than families to live there. At least SF was this way. More tax dollars. City life isn’t that great neither and unless you are into going out all the time or work there, city living just gets you more bums, dog shit allover the sidewalk (in SF at least), more noise, pollution, traffic, car alarms, ambulances practically daily/nightly, partiers going home at 2am on friday nights…Parking sucks too.

no thanks…

especially for folks with families…Also, the school situation is probably random/lottery (SF is this way I think) making parents with kids hesitant rather than going to private school if they don’t get their school pick. Most would rather just move to the burbs of del mar or anywhere in the PUSD.

I suppose for some of us, I don’t see the attraction of city living at all (having lived it myself).

[bearishgurl]

[quote=joec]Hi BG, just out of curiosity, what age bracket are you in? My wife and I in our late 30s with a young child. I’ll take a stab at why some piggs (namely me) can care less about the large lot. I grew up probably in a 15-20k lot in my parent’s house in the bay area. For us now, we really don’t care having that 10k+ lot (and we’re in a postage sized lot now) because . . . Lastly, being Asian and all the stereotypes that come with that, I think a lot of those zip codes are simply not on a lot of asian families list of cities to buy in. Lemon Grove, having lived in East county before is a pretty bad area having been there a few times . . .

5) We like NEW! Maybe the old generation has time to “fix up” the house, but like point 3 above, who has time to do a “home project?” I’d rather spend my time doing things I enjoy than fixing things around the house that’s constantly breaking in a 20 year old house…

Give me my postage stamp sized lot brand spanking new, highly energy efficient home anyday over a 20k lot 20 year fixer…[/quote]

joec, suffice to say that you and I are a generation apart. I, too, grew up in the Bay area, East Bay to be exact. We moved away just as the tracks were being laid for the East Bay BART stations.

“My generation” actually “expected” to fix a house upon purchase. A “20-year old house” is relatively new. In the urban areas I mentioned, the average age of a house is 55 years. Of course, we didn’t have any of the “distractions” that are present today (i.e. cellphones, PC’s, handheld devices, etc.). There were only so many cable channels to watch. Yes, we had jobs and kids, sometimes 2 jobs per person. But we expected to work on a house and fix it up. We were taught that *land* is real estate and there is no substitute for well-located land, no matter WHAT sits on it. If you are not handy and don’t enjoy renovations or repairs, then you made a lifestyle choice to “buy new.” But IMHO, in CA, the construction quality and superior locations are in the older stock.

I have a good longtime friend “single-mom” in Lemon Grove who has lived there all her life and owned her own home there for 11 years now. She has had absolutely no incident whatsoever. It is very quiet and many lots are quite large, including hers. There are many “granny-flat” rentals there on SFR lots, as well.

joec, I don’t know where you live but Asian people live everywhere. In South County, high concentrations of Asians can be found in Valencia Park (92114), Bay Terraces (92139), National City (91950), Chula Vista (91911, 91913, 91914 and 91915) and Otay Mesa (92154). You would feel right at home in all of these areas.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=joec]Hi BG, just out of curiosity, what age bracket are you in? My wife and I in our late 30s with a young child. I’ll take a stab at why some piggs (namely me) can care less about the large lot. I grew up probably in a 15-20k lot in my parent’s house in the bay area. For us now, we really don’t care having that 10k+ lot (and we’re in a postage sized lot now) because . . . Lastly, being Asian and all the stereotypes that come with that, I think a lot of those zip codes are simply not on a lot of asian families list of cities to buy in. Lemon Grove, having lived in East county before is a pretty bad area having been there a few times . . .

5) We like NEW! Maybe the old generation has time to “fix up” the house, but like point 3 above, who has time to do a “home project?” I’d rather spend my time doing things I enjoy than fixing things around the house that’s constantly breaking in a 20 year old house…

Give me my postage stamp sized lot brand spanking new, highly energy efficient home anyday over a 20k lot 20 year fixer…[/quote]

joec, suffice to say that you and I are a generation apart. I, too, grew up in the Bay area, East Bay to be exact. We moved away just as the tracks were being laid for the East Bay BART stations.

“My generation” actually “expected” to fix a house upon purchase. A “20-year old house” is relatively new. In the urban areas I mentioned, the average age of a house is 55 years. Of course, we didn’t have any of the “distractions” that are present today (i.e. cellphones, PC’s, handheld devices, etc.). There were only so many cable channels to watch. Yes, we had jobs and kids, sometimes 2 jobs per person. But we expected to work on a house and fix it up. We were taught that *land* is real estate and there is no substitute for well-located land, no matter WHAT sits on it. If you are not handy and don’t enjoy renovations or repairs, then you made a lifestyle choice to “buy new.” But IMHO, in CA, the construction quality and superior locations are in the older stock.

I have a good longtime friend “single-mom” in Lemon Grove who has lived there all her life and owned her own home there for 11 years now. She has had absolutely no incident whatsoever. It is very quiet and many lots are quite large, including hers. There are many “granny-flat” rentals there on SFR lots, as well.

joec, I don’t know where you live but Asian people live everywhere. In South County, high concentrations of Asians can be found in Valencia Park (92114), Bay Terraces (92139), National City (91950), Chula Vista (91911, 91913, 91914 and 91915) and Otay Mesa (92154). You would feel right at home in all of these areas.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=joec]Hi BG, just out of curiosity, what age bracket are you in? My wife and I in our late 30s with a young child. I’ll take a stab at why some piggs (namely me) can care less about the large lot. I grew up probably in a 15-20k lot in my parent’s house in the bay area. For us now, we really don’t care having that 10k+ lot (and we’re in a postage sized lot now) because . . . Lastly, being Asian and all the stereotypes that come with that, I think a lot of those zip codes are simply not on a lot of asian families list of cities to buy in. Lemon Grove, having lived in East county before is a pretty bad area having been there a few times . . .

5) We like NEW! Maybe the old generation has time to “fix up” the house, but like point 3 above, who has time to do a “home project?” I’d rather spend my time doing things I enjoy than fixing things around the house that’s constantly breaking in a 20 year old house…

Give me my postage stamp sized lot brand spanking new, highly energy efficient home anyday over a 20k lot 20 year fixer…[/quote]

joec, suffice to say that you and I are a generation apart. I, too, grew up in the Bay area, East Bay to be exact. We moved away just as the tracks were being laid for the East Bay BART stations.

“My generation” actually “expected” to fix a house upon purchase. A “20-year old house” is relatively new. In the urban areas I mentioned, the average age of a house is 55 years. Of course, we didn’t have any of the “distractions” that are present today (i.e. cellphones, PC’s, handheld devices, etc.). There were only so many cable channels to watch. Yes, we had jobs and kids, sometimes 2 jobs per person. But we expected to work on a house and fix it up. We were taught that *land* is real estate and there is no substitute for well-located land, no matter WHAT sits on it. If you are not handy and don’t enjoy renovations or repairs, then you made a lifestyle choice to “buy new.” But IMHO, in CA, the construction quality and superior locations are in the older stock.

I have a good longtime friend “single-mom” in Lemon Grove who has lived there all her life and owned her own home there for 11 years now. She has had absolutely no incident whatsoever. It is very quiet and many lots are quite large, including hers. There are many “granny-flat” rentals there on SFR lots, as well.

joec, I don’t know where you live but Asian people live everywhere. In South County, high concentrations of Asians can be found in Valencia Park (92114), Bay Terraces (92139), National City (91950), Chula Vista (91911, 91913, 91914 and 91915) and Otay Mesa (92154). You would feel right at home in all of these areas.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=joec]Hi BG, just out of curiosity, what age bracket are you in? My wife and I in our late 30s with a young child. I’ll take a stab at why some piggs (namely me) can care less about the large lot. I grew up probably in a 15-20k lot in my parent’s house in the bay area. For us now, we really don’t care having that 10k+ lot (and we’re in a postage sized lot now) because . . . Lastly, being Asian and all the stereotypes that come with that, I think a lot of those zip codes are simply not on a lot of asian families list of cities to buy in. Lemon Grove, having lived in East county before is a pretty bad area having been there a few times . . .

5) We like NEW! Maybe the old generation has time to “fix up” the house, but like point 3 above, who has time to do a “home project?” I’d rather spend my time doing things I enjoy than fixing things around the house that’s constantly breaking in a 20 year old house…

Give me my postage stamp sized lot brand spanking new, highly energy efficient home anyday over a 20k lot 20 year fixer…[/quote]

joec, suffice to say that you and I are a generation apart. I, too, grew up in the Bay area, East Bay to be exact. We moved away just as the tracks were being laid for the East Bay BART stations.

“My generation” actually “expected” to fix a house upon purchase. A “20-year old house” is relatively new. In the urban areas I mentioned, the average age of a house is 55 years. Of course, we didn’t have any of the “distractions” that are present today (i.e. cellphones, PC’s, handheld devices, etc.). There were only so many cable channels to watch. Yes, we had jobs and kids, sometimes 2 jobs per person. But we expected to work on a house and fix it up. We were taught that *land* is real estate and there is no substitute for well-located land, no matter WHAT sits on it. If you are not handy and don’t enjoy renovations or repairs, then you made a lifestyle choice to “buy new.” But IMHO, in CA, the construction quality and superior locations are in the older stock.

I have a good longtime friend “single-mom” in Lemon Grove who has lived there all her life and owned her own home there for 11 years now. She has had absolutely no incident whatsoever. It is very quiet and many lots are quite large, including hers. There are many “granny-flat” rentals there on SFR lots, as well.

joec, I don’t know where you live but Asian people live everywhere. In South County, high concentrations of Asians can be found in Valencia Park (92114), Bay Terraces (92139), National City (91950), Chula Vista (91911, 91913, 91914 and 91915) and Otay Mesa (92154). You would feel right at home in all of these areas.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=joec]Hi BG, just out of curiosity, what age bracket are you in? My wife and I in our late 30s with a young child. I’ll take a stab at why some piggs (namely me) can care less about the large lot. I grew up probably in a 15-20k lot in my parent’s house in the bay area. For us now, we really don’t care having that 10k+ lot (and we’re in a postage sized lot now) because . . . Lastly, being Asian and all the stereotypes that come with that, I think a lot of those zip codes are simply not on a lot of asian families list of cities to buy in. Lemon Grove, having lived in East county before is a pretty bad area having been there a few times . . .

5) We like NEW! Maybe the old generation has time to “fix up” the house, but like point 3 above, who has time to do a “home project?” I’d rather spend my time doing things I enjoy than fixing things around the house that’s constantly breaking in a 20 year old house…

Give me my postage stamp sized lot brand spanking new, highly energy efficient home anyday over a 20k lot 20 year fixer…[/quote]

joec, suffice to say that you and I are a generation apart. I, too, grew up in the Bay area, East Bay to be exact. We moved away just as the tracks were being laid for the East Bay BART stations.

“My generation” actually “expected” to fix a house upon purchase. A “20-year old house” is relatively new. In the urban areas I mentioned, the average age of a house is 55 years. Of course, we didn’t have any of the “distractions” that are present today (i.e. cellphones, PC’s, handheld devices, etc.). There were only so many cable channels to watch. Yes, we had jobs and kids, sometimes 2 jobs per person. But we expected to work on a house and fix it up. We were taught that *land* is real estate and there is no substitute for well-located land, no matter WHAT sits on it. If you are not handy and don’t enjoy renovations or repairs, then you made a lifestyle choice to “buy new.” But IMHO, in CA, the construction quality and superior locations are in the older stock.

I have a good longtime friend “single-mom” in Lemon Grove who has lived there all her life and owned her own home there for 11 years now. She has had absolutely no incident whatsoever. It is very quiet and many lots are quite large, including hers. There are many “granny-flat” rentals there on SFR lots, as well.

joec, I don’t know where you live but Asian people live everywhere. In South County, high concentrations of Asians can be found in Valencia Park (92114), Bay Terraces (92139), National City (91950), Chula Vista (91911, 91913, 91914 and 91915) and Otay Mesa (92154). You would feel right at home in all of these areas.

[an]

[quote=bearishgurl]
AN, I implore you then to GO BUY that 5000 sf lot property in Del Mar . . . and make sure it’s NOT a condo and west of the 5. Actually, you should do it while the prices/interest rates are down if this is your dream . . . ASAP. You may never get another chance in your lifetime!

I’ll just stay in my “affordable” large house on a 7000-ish sf lot in Chula and you can send me a postcard. And . . . GOOD LUCK to you ;=)[/quote]
Why, did they stop making new land in Del Mar? I thought you were chanting and location location location? I was just agreeing with you.

[an]

[quote=bearishgurl]
AN, I implore you then to GO BUY that 5000 sf lot property in Del Mar . . . and make sure it’s NOT a condo and west of the 5. Actually, you should do it while the prices/interest rates are down if this is your dream . . . ASAP. You may never get another chance in your lifetime!

I’ll just stay in my “affordable” large house on a 7000-ish sf lot in Chula and you can send me a postcard. And . . . GOOD LUCK to you ;=)[/quote]
Why, did they stop making new land in Del Mar? I thought you were chanting and location location location? I was just agreeing with you.

[an]

[quote=bearishgurl]
AN, I implore you then to GO BUY that 5000 sf lot property in Del Mar . . . and make sure it’s NOT a condo and west of the 5. Actually, you should do it while the prices/interest rates are down if this is your dream . . . ASAP. You may never get another chance in your lifetime!

I’ll just stay in my “affordable” large house on a 7000-ish sf lot in Chula and you can send me a postcard. And . . . GOOD LUCK to you ;=)[/quote]
Why, did they stop making new land in Del Mar? I thought you were chanting and location location location? I was just agreeing with you.

[an]

[quote=bearishgurl]
AN, I implore you then to GO BUY that 5000 sf lot property in Del Mar . . . and make sure it’s NOT a condo and west of the 5. Actually, you should do it while the prices/interest rates are down if this is your dream . . . ASAP. You may never get another chance in your lifetime!

I’ll just stay in my “affordable” large house on a 7000-ish sf lot in Chula and you can send me a postcard. And . . . GOOD LUCK to you ;=)[/quote]
Why, did they stop making new land in Del Mar? I thought you were chanting and location location location? I was just agreeing with you.

[Author]

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