As a fellow European I think it's worth pointing out that the norm in Europe is still to build houses to last (you expect your kids to inherit them or to be som

As a fellow European I think it's worth pointing out that the norm in Europe is still to build houses to last (you expect your kids to inherit them or to be some kind of investment). In the US they are more often built for the shorter term. This comes down to building materials and other (from a European POV) questionable decisions that save money or make them easier to produce or just don't seem as important with the short term in mind. This doesn't hold true universally of course. Some people in the US place value in building things to last and some Europeans are starting to see houses as something they will replace when the kids move out or whatever, but it seems to be reflective of a general cultural difference. Also, there's just a lot more space in the US and mass-produced suburbian housing is a thing.