Went to open houses.Wonder why people buy subdivision houses

[Nikia]

Unfortunately, we cannot afford the houses that we looked at, but if we had more money we would be buying. Both houses were waterfront (river) properties but not in the floodplain. They were out of town and were in a natural setting. They also both had big open rooms.
The first house was a dome home, 1800 square feet. It was $200,000.
The second house was 2,000 square feet. It included 6 acres, gardens, fruit trees, and a few sheds. It was $240,000.
Either would have been wonderful. It is too bad that we don't have more money. If we ever do, we will be buying homes like those not a subdivsion home that is built almost on top of another that looks exactly like it.

[Wapsie B]

1. That does seem so odd to me.

It's the same way around here. Expensive homes in these cookie-cutter subdivisions, some even in real small towns under 10,000 people. They're built with no privacy, landscaping and little lot space for what you're paying for a house.

[Orsino]

3. In cookie-cutters, you're paying for the security...

...of huddling next to the right kind of people--those with sufficient money and albedo to satisfy covenants written and unwritten.

If you're willing to take your chances with neighbors, you can pay less.

[MissB]

2. I really love old homes.

Not only are they usually *not* cookie cutters, but they are better built.

[Wcross]

4. I would never even considered a subdivision home.

I found 15 acres and a small (680sqft) house close enough to where I work for 50,000. I have no neighbors and no problems. No punk kids with their loud stereos disturbing the peace. I am able to let my dogs run off leash and have wild turkeys and deer visit on a regular basis. I could walk up to my mailbox naked and not worry about it if I wanted to.
I really don't get into being around people 24/7. I would suffocate in a subdivision.

[wildhorses]

5. give me, my dead end dirt road any day, thanks!!!

green acres is the place to be...

[leftofthedial]

6. same reason people watch Faux News

and call themselves Christians


conformity

[Telly Savalas]

12. Or alternately it can be the most logical economic decision

especially in circumstances where there are limited choices. I hate cookie-cutter homes in subdivisions as much as the next guy, but when that's what 99% of new development in the last couple of decades has been, a lot of people are forced to settle.

My family rents the ground-floor of a semi-detached in an old neighbourhood, but we could probably get 2 or 3 times the floor space of this cramped place if we moved to the 'burbs. For us the intangible benefits of living here outweigh this, but I certainly wouldn't call anyone who chose the other way a conformist.

Post #10 is a perfect example of this. I wouldn't call that person a "sheeple". (Granted I wouldn't call anyone a "sheeple" because it's a dumb word which denotes an offensive concept.)

As an aside, I find it baffling that people in this thread consider suburban sprawl to be cramped. If someone thinks that everyone should live far apart for privacy or whatever, then they sure as hell shouldn't gripe about gas prices.

[LostinVA]

19. Exactly... 240k? Those homes the OP mentioned would be at least

1-300k more around here... I bought a little 1300 sft home in a wooded community with about 1/2 acre of land. I like it, it's pretty, the community is nice, and it's out of town... and the house payment is cheaper than my rent was. NO way I could afford ANY house like you mentioned.

And, like you, exurb or suburban "sprawl" can be very nice -- my exurb is very natural, very wooded, alot of wildlife -- and there are covenants making you keep it that way. Yay!

[TallahasseeGrannie]

30. Now, now

let's not be snarky. I live in a subdivision and there is very little about me that is conformist.

The house is the right size, the right price, has a lot of trees, and nice people on both sides. It's new enough that it won't need a new roof or AC, and there are parks and playgrounds and lakes galore for recreation. The schools are good.

The street is pretty, winding, hilly...but it is a subdivision. Actually, only about 10% of the homes in Tallahassee are NOT in a subdivision. And those are downtown. We have at least 25-40 subdivisions and some of them are larger (like the one I live in) than the town I grew up in in NJ.

It's who's IN the houses that is important, not whether or not they are similar or in a subdivision.

[KatyMan]

33. Isn't that awfully judgmental?

As someone else said, it could have a lot to do with schools, commuting, value for money...buying an old house is often a case of buying someone else's problem, and new houses usually come with 10 year guarantees. Maybe some people are very sociable and like having neighbors? One man's meat is another man's poison..

Also, the "Christians" thing...that's an awfully disparaging remark about a large group of people in the world, the BULK of whom are not wacko US evangelicals. A post that used the word Wiccan or atheist in the same way would be flamed. Remember, we're the inclusive party--we want Christians in box houses, Wiccans in small towns, atheists in old neighborhoods, Jews on farms...everyone (and yes, one man's religion is another man's belly laugh).

[LostinVA]

34. Good post --- and welcome to DU!

[Kat45]

7. Wow! You can't even get a condo around here for that price.

They go for double that price. As for houses, fergeddaboudit!

[Nikia]

8. I mentioned that to my husband too

That if we lived in some areas, that $250,000 would be like the small and dumpy houses around here. Strangely, there are also not cheap condos (around $150,000-$180,000) around here. I wouldn't buy those either.

[Shine]

9. Clearly you are NOT in California.

6 acres, 2000 feet for 240K??! Wow. I wish we had prices like that out here. :eyes:

It's all relative.

Good luck and I hope you find a Home you can be happy in. :hi:

[XemaSab]

13. You can get that in Northern California

:shrug:

[LostinVA]

21. People I know who live in NOCA can't buy a home because

They say the STARTING price for a dump is 500k.... maybe.

[XemaSab]

32. They live in Central California

Things are still affordable in Northern California. :)

[mykpart]

10. I'm in a cookie-cutter home,

but it was <100,000 dollars. Bought it because it was better than paying rent (which is pouring money into a rathole) that went up every year, and no lease available for more than a year. Our apartment looked the same as 100 others, so that wasn't such an adjustment. And we have painted and carpeted according to our own taste. And we couldn't have afforded anything more.

[LostinVA]

20. Yup -- I was in the same boat as you!

Cookie cutter home in a nice wooded community... I love it. I lived in an apartment from 1987 until last June.... the house is HEAVEN to me! No shared walls, no loud music in the parking lot, no loud parties, I can paint the walls any color I want.....

[Oeditpus Rex]

11. Where do you live?

In these parts (central Kollyforniya, not far from the coast but still quite rural), $200,000 will get you... a garage.

I exaggerate only slightly.

A two-bedroom, 50-year-old "fixer-upper" goes for $350,000, minimum.

[Digit]

14. It just has to do with individual preferences

...and what people are able to spend.
Sometimes it is the school district which is the draw.
Other people have a thing about only wanting brand new homes, and most of those are
going to be located in a newer subdivision.

My individual preference is for older homes built prior to 1920.

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. I caution people about buying homes "not int he flood plain" here in the

Midwest. They are in the process of reassigning the flood plains here in MI due to none other than "FLOODING". ;)

[DS1]

16. That's how much the land alone would cost around here

wow

[LostinVA]

22. Here too

[wain]

17. My home is in a small subdivision in the countryside

Not a fancy, big box house, but about 1800 sq feet on 3/4 acre of land. It's a little bit of both worlds - away from the suburb sprawl but close enough to community. However, we are beginning to experience growth in the area, increased taxes and a MacDonald's opened up nearby. Civilization is beginning to catch up out here!

I wish you the best in finding your own home. There's nothing like it. One of the real issues (largely ignored by politicians) is the increase in the cost of housing over the last 30 years. Owning your own home used to be one of the American dreams. Thirty years ago a young couple could afford to buy a modest home on a single income and raise a family. Not any more. Moreover, it's hard to find an area where builders are putting up "starter" homes.

:)

[LostinVA]

23. It sounds like you live someplace like me

It's great, isn't it? And, we recently had a Subway open up close by us....! Much better than McDonald's!

[wain]

24. That kind of Subway is okay

It's when they build a subway (the underground kind) you know the city has gotten to close to home!
:hi:

[LostinVA]

25. Ha! True

[marzipanni]

27. LAC (laughing and crying)-Here is a series of classic R. Crumb drawings

illustrating a little old house of the past gradually being surrounded and overtaken by the present and future.

http://www.zubeworld.com/crumbmuseum/history2.html

[NewJeffCT]

18. eek, I just looked at a home that was neither and

it was not in a subdivision, but it was also not an out-of-town natural setting and it was $650,000 with property taxes that were $11,000 per year. (it was on 1.5 acres on a fairly busy street in a relatively quiet suburb of New Haven, CT)

Granted, it was big and only 7 years old.

In CT, at least, there are plenty of subdivisions that offer people a good amount of land (we're in a subdivision now, and we have about 1.5 acres of land, and all the properties here have at least 1 acre) Granted, there are some where the homes are right on top of each other, but that does not appeal too much to me unless we were in a town with really great public schools.

[yellowcanine]

26. The kind of houses you talk about actually chew up farmland faster.

Clustered housing in subdivisions is a better use of land and leaves more open space and farmland. Yes many of us would like to live on 5 or 6 acres out in the country - but there isn't enough land for all of us that would like that to do it. Unless you are happy eating yeast fermented in tanks in a factory you had better support preserving land for agriculture before it is too late.

[Kali]

35. thank you

and I caution the "country dreamers" to really find out what rural living means. It IS wonderful, but you not only become more "free" but must become more responsible. Not all of us are cut out for hauling our own trash, or muddy dirt roads, or strange critters invading every change of season, etc etc etc.

If you enjoy or are dependant on the ammenities of urban life PLEASE don't contribut to the loss of farmland, or wildland by causing it to be broken up and "civilized".

If you enjoy open space on occasion, stay in the city and just visit for fun!

[July]

28. Here's why in my case.

We could get more (and better quality) house for the same money asked for older houses around here.

I also like new houses, though I'd consider a charming old one.

Luckily, this subdivision has some plusses that our last one didn't. Our lot is small, but we've got a wooded area behind us (close to the house). It's small, but I've had several years of enjoying a pretty good variety of birds and critters, not to mention the advantage of no neighbor behind us. Our subdivision is also incredibly diverse in its population (again, unlike the last one).

I'd prefer a large hunk of land with a lot more woods, but that would cost a small fortune here in New Jersey. In addition, my husband would go stir crazy, city boy that he is, so this is a good compromise.

[LSK]

29. because where I live I would have to commute 2 hours or pay $500k

[fleabert]

31. I would kill for a house in that price range.

we looked at a 80 year old house this weekend. it needs a complete gutting, down to the studs- mold and complete neglect for about 20 years- in a not so great neighborhood. Probably 1800 sq. feet.

$800,000

it is fucking ridiculous.

We'll probably end up getting a TIC or condo for 450,000 that will mean we eat beans and rice for a couple of years.