Has Anyone Downsized or Thinking of It?

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Originally Posted by cschin4

As for bigger houses not selling well and the economy worsening you may indeed be correct allthough I'm not betting on it.

Why is that? But, yes, nobody knows what will happen in the future. Who predicted the internet boom, etc? IBM had made some statement yrs prior that the world only needs about 5 computers.
But, regardless, it is always the best course of action to live below one's means than on the cusp.

Skip down toward the bottom of the Thomas J. Watson entry on wikipedia for some commentary on that. Evidently a simlar matter is addressed on some IBM FAQ's, so the story has been floating around for a while.

Thomas J. Watson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A president of DEC (Ken Ollsen?) is also sometimes quoted as saying that he didn't see why anyone would want a computer in their home. Should I google that one?

[kork13]

Originally Posted by Joan.of.the.Arch

A president of DEC (Ken Ollsen?) is also sometimes quoted as saying that he didn't see why anyone would want a computer in their home. Should I google that one?

Don't bother, it's true (though out of context) -- Snopes has you covered: snopes.com: Ken Olsen Computer Quote

They don't have anything about the '5 computers' quote, but you can email snopes and they may check it out. They do a good job of looking into stuff like that.

[cschin4]

Why would a company that makes computers and makes money by selling those computers say that?

Trust me, IBM never said that.

I've worked with IBM for 30 years and I've never heard of what you wrote.

I am just here posting my opinions not writing my Master's Thesis. It is just something I had heard and the point wasn't how "true" the statement was but to make a point about predicting the future and how we can often be wrong.

[paperkool]

Originally Posted by cschin4

I recently sold my home which is a 4BR 2800 sq ft home and am downsizing next week into a home that is about 1800 sq ft. I am trying to "batton down the hatches" whatever that means and live a simpler life. I am also decluttering a lot of stuff as well. I am trying to look ahead a bit as my oldest will be turning 14 so out the door in a few years and I won't need the bigger house. And, I think bigger homes are going to be more difficult to sell when the economy worsens.
Did you downsize and were you glad you did?

I think Bigger Homes will be easy to sell when the sellers come down on price.

[cschin4]

I think Bigger Homes will be easy to sell when the sellers come down on price.

Perhaps, but I didn't want to take a loss so I sold it now and with the market spike I sold it at list price.
If cap and trade goes through and energy prices skyrocket, these big homes will be very undesirable and too expensive to maintain even if the price is right.

[wincrasher]

Everyone is sitting out the market because they think they can get people's properties for nothing. Well I doubt it will sink much lower. Banks are sitting on real estate to wait out the market since they are no longer so desperate. Regular people are also no willing to take losses, so they are waiting it out to.

There are deals out there, but you have to compete with the speculators, and they have cash. So good luck with that.

Cap & trade is another propaganda campaign to scare people into doing nothing about the environment. It'll probably work. But the reality is that we have a mix of energy sources, so there won't be a catastrophic rise in energy prices. Actually, when the rules are finally set, you'll see businesses be able to actually forecast their revenues and costs. Right now it's anyone's guess - without knowing what the rules are, everyone sits tight and doesn't invest.

If cap & trade goes thru, there will be investment in alternative and cleaner technologies. We'll all benefit in jobs creation and may not destroy life on earth in the process.

[cschin4]

If cap & trade goes thru, there will be investment in alternative and cleaner technologies. We'll all benefit in jobs creation and may not destroy life on earth in the process.

Wrong. That will completely destroy any hope of having any real solutions to the energy needs of our nation. The reality is that we have MORE than enough coal, oil, and shale and could develop plenty of power. The environmentalist have slammed down the industry of this nation and we continue to allow them to do so at our own peril. The phony baloney "sky is falling" mantra is not only false but has been devastating to our economy. Cap and trade is more of the same on a massive scale and we will live like a third world nation.

[cschin4]

Even Obama has stated that electric rates and other energy prices would go up 90% if cap and trade is pushed through. You all need to listen to what your leaders are really saying and look at the facts.

[LuxLiving]

Hello solar!

[scfr]

In terms of actual numbers, no. Our new house and our former house are essentially the same size (only 30 sq ft different).

Relatively speaking, yes. In our old neighborhood in the Seattle area, our house was average size. Here in our new neighborhood, we have the 2nd smallest house. I had hoped to downsize, but that would have meant a condo or garden home. That is what happens when you move to the "Everything is bigger in" state.

In between houses, we downsized big-time, to a 1BR apt where we not only lived but DH had his office there too.

cschin4, you may enjoy this book:
Amazon.com: Downsizing Your Home with Style: Living Well In a Smaller Space (9780061170973): Lauri Ward: Books

[Goldy1]

I feel right sized in my 1900 sq ft home with 3 people. I could do with smaller or a tad bigger but this is nice. I want to be with my family and a large home might make me feel more distant. haha...granted I like having my own space...I just turned my own den which was me haven into a playroom for my baby.