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Nearly my entire neighborhood consists of old Gen Xers and Boomers living in 2500-3500 sq ft houses, sometimes alone. It's insane. These people have decades to

Nearly my entire neighborhood consists of old Gen Xers and Boomers living in 2500-3500 sq ft houses, sometimes alone. It's insane. These people have decades to live in many cases. They are taking up these huge houses in smaller cities like mine so where are families going to go?

shagie 4y ago
As one of those genx with a house larger than I need... yes. The flip side of that is when I bought this hose from (looking it up) silent generation owner who was moving to a nursing home, there wasn't any other housing inventory in the price range and area and cost. Buying an old house and fixing it up over the years was much cheaper than buying a new house another half an hour out of town that costs 2x-3x more. The buying a small house new house is still 2x-3x more than this old house would sell for. Other than that this is a big house, there is no reason to sell it at this time. Additionally, the new development that is being built is targeting the most money that can be packed into a single lot... and... well, I don't want or need that. If people want me to move out, build a nice 1-2 br 1.5 bath with a room for a home office on the quiet end of a street. I don't need a fancy kitchen. I don't need a place for fancy plates to show off in the dining room. I don't need a man cave with a bar or a three car garage... just something nice and sensible. And yes, it is certainly a problem. Housing supply has been woefully under built for a decade or more, and that which is there is not targeting what remains of the middle aged middle class that sees a 30 year mortgage when they're 40 as absurd. The less expensive supply is often getting bought up by people speculating, as a rental property (either by a landlord or by a company). Which brings us to "I've got a house, its paid off, going anywhere else reduces my net worth and gives me some debt that I'm unlikely going to be pay off before I retire - there is no reason to move at all."
mancerayder 4y ago
Not everyone is "fit" for living in dense cities with shared walls, noisy streets and crowded environs. There's a psychological component to being embedded with many people 24/7 that is under-appreciated here, when people fantasize about the ideal society of walkable cities, proportionally-sized dwellings, and density. The latter is for the single, the young and the adventurous. The old cranks like me grow out of it and long for a few thousand feet without noisy student neighbors playing music in the middle of the night or having parties. Not to mention waiting in lines everywhere to go, and being forced to rub shoulders with lunatics when you need to commute for work or shopping. At this stage of the game I'm ready for the 2500 sf house.
jjav 4y ago
> Nearly my entire neighborhood consists of old Gen Xers and Boomers living in 2500-3500 sq ft houses, sometimes alone. Where is this? I'd love a place where single people can afford a 3500sqft house? Here in silicon valley it takes two tech salaries to afford a 1300sqft box.
- echelon 4y ago
  > Where is this? I'd love a place where single people can afford a 3500sqft house? Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, ...

shagie 4y ago

As one of those genx with a house larger than I need... yes. The flip side of that is when I bought this hose from (looking it up) silent generation owner who was moving to a nursing home, there wasn't any other housing inventory in the price range and area and cost. Buying an old house and fixing it up over the years was much cheaper than buying a new house another half an hour out of town that costs 2x-3x more. The buying a small house new house is still 2x-3x more than this old house would sell for. Other than that this is a big house, there is no reason to sell it at this time. Additionally, the new development that is being built is targeting the most money that can be packed into a single lot... and... well, I don't want or need that. If people want me to move out, build a nice 1-2 br 1.5 bath with a room for a home office on the quiet end of a street. I don't need a fancy kitchen. I don't need a place for fancy plates to show off in the dining room. I don't need a man cave with a bar or a three car garage... just something nice and sensible. And yes, it is certainly a problem. Housing supply has been woefully under built for a decade or more, and that which is there is not targeting what remains of the middle aged middle class that sees a 30 year mortgage when they're 40 as absurd. The less expensive supply is often getting bought up by people speculating, as a rental property (either by a landlord or by a company). Which brings us to "I've got a house, its paid off, going anywhere else reduces my net worth and gives me some debt that I'm unlikely going to be pay off before I retire - there is no reason to move at all."

mancerayder 4y ago

Not everyone is "fit" for living in dense cities with shared walls, noisy streets and crowded environs. There's a psychological component to being embedded with many people 24/7 that is under-appreciated here, when people fantasize about the ideal society of walkable cities, proportionally-sized dwellings, and density. The latter is for the single, the young and the adventurous. The old cranks like me grow out of it and long for a few thousand feet without noisy student neighbors playing music in the middle of the night or having parties. Not to mention waiting in lines everywhere to go, and being forced to rub shoulders with lunatics when you need to commute for work or shopping. At this stage of the game I'm ready for the 2500 sf house.

jjav 4y ago

> Nearly my entire neighborhood consists of old Gen Xers and Boomers living in 2500-3500 sq ft houses, sometimes alone. Where is this? I'd love a place where single people can afford a 3500sqft house? Here in silicon valley it takes two tech salaries to afford a 1300sqft box.

echelon 4y ago
> Where is this? I'd love a place where single people can afford a 3500sqft house? Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, ...