Bye bye McMansions.. Hello modest mid-century Bungalow… Research has shown that small houses are now “in” and the trend is expected to continue for at least a few years. It was bound to happen due to the downturn in the economy. More people have experienced unemployment or financial losses over the past few years and have started to see some of the benefits of downsizing. Some couples want to purchase a home on one income, to play it safe. Not only is the initial price of a small home usually lower, but a homebuyer can expect to save on taxes, maintenance, insurance, taxes and energy costs. Financial reasons aren’t the only draw for some buyers. Many couples come in saying they don’t need the extra space because it’s just the two of them. Even a young couple with children may seek a modest sized home as their first place. They plan to stay in the home forever and want a place they won’t outgrow when the kids are gone and they want to retire. 60 years ago, the average home was only 1,000 square feet. These homes are plentiful in Seattle and tend to be warm and inviting. Heaton Dainard has several signicantly discounted homes in these beautiful historic Seattle neighborhoods. The reason many people shy away from buying a small historic home is because the interiors can be outdated. Heaton Dainard is a full service firm that will help buyers and investors find a highly discounted bank-owned property and completely renovate it with modern fixtures and finishes. The firm always has a steady supply of beautiful, older homes that have been newly renovated and investment opportunities for people that want to fix and flip. The average house size in Seattle, 1,460 square feet, is smaller than the national average. That smaller average size is partly owing to the number of bungalows and small houses that were built before 1950; the average Seattle house was built in 1949, while the national average is 1974. Twenty-six percent of Seattle houses were built between 1940 and 1959, the highest percentage of any time period for the city according to Zillow.com. The national average size of houses being sold is decreasing in the recession. In 2009, the average square footage of single-family houses fell to 2,434 from 2,508 in 2008, census data showed. That’s still much larger than the average size 30 years ago — 1,700 square feet. Seattle’s suburbs are know for bigger homes. In Bellevue, for instance, 23.3 percent of houses are 1,800 to 2,400 square feet; 25.4 percent are 2,400 to 3,600 square feet; and 8.8 percent are 3,600 or more square feet, according to the Seattle Times. If you do opt for a smaller house, you have to have some creativity. Going through posessions are important to weed through what you don’t need and optimize your closet space. Layout is also crucial. People are seeking multi-purpose spaces not to waste space because they need it.
