Living Space SQ FT: Have, Want & Need

[Singuy]

Then I wonder why are you guys not getting what you want, considering it's a net saving for you. It's kind of a waste of money staying in a house that's too big for your wants and needs.

[snafu]

We're talking about moving to smaller condo.
Have 1,900 sf + totally developed basement & double garage
Need 900 sf + assigned parking

We currently have two hardly used guest bedrooms, a separate dining rm/home office is used less than two hours a day. If there was an electric outlet, the upper stair landing would be adequate for a home office. Use under-the-stairs cupboard for once-a-year needed items. Fully furnished basement not used since sons developed careers 6 hour flight away.

In other countries space is staggeringly expensive. In Hong Kong a normal sized N American closet would cost close to HKK $ 1 M. Every overseas contract puts us in a 600 sf furnished apartment which is 'adequate' since it's not the custom to entertain in your home.

Everything possible is hung on walls, every inch of space is engineeringly practical. Washer is on the balcony with a very efficient, pull up dryer rack. Stuff does double duty, galley kitchen is adequate for basic prep & cooking, eat at a fold against the wall table at [kitchen] end of the living rm/lounge. When prep is complicated, we use the table to increase work area.

It's rare to bring work home, most people stay late to complete work. Computer station with adjacent rolling cart for supplies is likely a height adjustable, wheeled, cart-like side table or the kitchen fold down table. Extra chairs [IKEA, colorful, light weight, fold down] are hung on wall, art-like.

[rennigade]

I just bought a house and have no idea what the sq footage is...couldnt care less.

[DaveInPgh]

Then I wonder why are you guys not getting what you want, considering it's a net saving for you. It's kind of a waste of money staying in a house that's too big for your wants and needs.

Like many things in life, it is not a black & white issue.

We bought our house before starting a family in a neighborhood with a good school district. At the time, we envisioned having two kids. We decided not to have a second child, so the house we purchased several years prior is more than what we need.

Also, I put no sentimental value on my living space. My family does. So although it is more space than we need, it will likely be the space we remain in until my child goes to college.

[DaveInPgh]

I just bought a house and have no idea what the sq footage is...couldnt care less.

Thanks for sharing

[GoodSteward]

Have: 1296 + 260 separate office building beside the house
Want: 1600-1800 all in the same house. Bedroom for each child, 5 rooms total lol.
Need: What i have now is all I really need. People have done it with less.

Or perhaps that our want has changed over the years! I can think of numerous reasons for that to occur that has nothing to do with overpaying for a big house.

Which is why I look at people who spend big money trying to have a big house just to want a smaller one in the end. I'll skip the stressful years and just keep a smallerish one.

[DaveInPgh]

Which is why I look at people who spend big money trying to have a big house just to want a smaller one in the end. I'll skip the stressful years and just keep a smallerish one.

What we have now would be more in line with what we need if we would have stuck with the plan to have a second child. We did end up with a little more than what we would have needed, but that was not due to wanting bigger. Location was the main reason we ended up with the 4th BR. 3BR was the minimum requirement given to our agent. Just turned out that there were none that we liked in the neighborhood we were looking at.

We were both active on eBay at the time, so we immediately made that 4th bedroom an office. Still used that way today.

[cypher1]

Have: 2000
Want: 800-1200
Need: 600? (or just live in my garage like main character in Tron: Legacy)

I used to have roommates until this year, so now I'm home alone (which I love). I have 1 guest room and 1 completely empty. No desire to sell or move yet but know I'm losing out to potential savings growth. But if I did, I'd just rent it out, put my tools and wants in storage, and sell the rest to move wherever my career takes me.

[sblatner]

Have: 1500
Want: 1800

We are an empty nest but I would like a family room just to have the extra space...it's not happening.

[FLA]

have: 2000, plus 750 finished basement, 1250 unfinished, this is way more than we need and I was totally against finishing the basement area

want: a 1 or 2 BR apt or condo, with the 1 BR large

need: a 1BR condo or apt will occur upon death of parents

[Singuy]

Glad that you guys are true savers and have very little wants. I shouldn't even be on this forum considering my want list was lakefront, three car garage, tile roofs, theater room, high ceilings, guarded neighborhood, and open concept.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Um singuy I think you mistake that all on here are savers by nature. I want 4 bedrooms, a den, and a playroom/bonus room. I want an open floor plan and 3 car garage. I want a bit of space so 1/4 acre would be ideal. I want bedrooms together and laundry on the second floor. I ideally want an open floor plan and garage next to kitchen or same level.

Will I get it? Probably not. But one can dream. Truth is that everything I want I've seen at about 2600 sq ft if it's well designed. I've seen a ton of homes with 3200 or 3400 sq ft and it didn't have everything I wanted and the layout was terrible. It was really poorly designed. I don't understand how you can get so many sq ft and still miss the point of things. But alas so many homes I've seen at 3 bedrooms and 3000+ sq ft and I question why?

A good layout gets you a lot further with small space than a bad layout and all the space in the world.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Have 1500 sq feet.
Want 1500 sq feet.
Need 1500 sq feet.

Why need any more? it's just more to clean and heat.

[DaveInPgh]

Glad that you guys are true savers and have very little wants. I shouldn't even be on this forum considering my want list was lakefront, three car garage, tile roofs, theater room, high ceilings, guarded neighborhood, and open concept.

Well actually our retirement want will be 695 SQ FT on St. Pete Beach. Where we vacation would be plenty enough room, and the view is amazing.

[HundredK]

Have: 1500
Want: 1500
Need: 1500 (we work from home and have two separate offices within our living space)

Re: tiny houses, I have a friend who did the whole tiny house thing. She gave up on it after a year. Unbelievable and costly problems with that thing (there are plumbing issues, land issues, plus the whole wanting to kill your spouse from being in close proximity issue)