Home prices are unbelievable

[MACKTEXAS]

@MACKTEXAS, I vividly remember when most households didn't need a two-car garage, let alone have that building in front. I remember most families getting along with one car, so one of the adults may have walked or ridden a bus to run errands.

No huge-wide driveways either. Lawns were bigger, and the woman of the household often had flowers and decorative shrubs in the back yard, and sometimes in front too. If a son in his mid teens worked at an afternoon and weekend job, he might buy a used car — but he parked it on the street out front.

Yes, me too. I do not care for the garage predominating the look of a residence.

 

[David777]

To understand where people live in California, this map was derived from maybe 2010 Census info. So there are vast areas beyond urban regions with far less density. Those areas are deserts and mountains, many unavailable to real estate interests because they are public lands. California has about 40 million humans, with 24 million in SoCal and 16 million in NorCal given a Tehachapi Mountain dividing line. A primary reason both the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California coastal regions are so housing expensive is because those areas are boxed in by areas the urban region cannot expand into. Well real estate mongers sometimes try, but then that is where the horrible fires occur or where there is little to no water and are often hot.

 

[That Lady in PA]

View attachment 501006

I can't find a picture on the internet that looks quite like the home(s) I'm trying to write about, but the above is similar to new homes currently going in to my community. The garage sticks way out front too conspicuously, with the entry to the home way back to the side of the garage. They all look the same, except that some have only one level; others have 1½ levels (as pictured).

Since I cannot understand anyone finding that look attractive, I'm guessing it's a cheaper manner of construction in order to be able to sell the houses.

I detest that look. Fortunately that is not a common floor plan in my parts.
I have heard it called Garage Nose….

 

[Born_To_Lose]

I just spent a month in Hawaii while visiting my son and grandson. You think home prices are off the charts inside the states, try buying a home in Hawaii. My son keeps asking me to move over there, but for the same price of a home here in Florida that is worth $500,000, I would pay over $1mil on the island of Oahu.

My son would like me to move in with him because his wife died years ago and now his son has graduated from law school and has his own practice attached to his own home, so he is now all alone. Even though I am no young pup, I would still appreciate having my own space and privacy.

 

[Jules]

Yes, me too. I do not care for the garage predominating the look of a residence.

It’s known as “Feature Garage.” It’s very common because of the value of and lack of land suitable for building. We must have access for our two cars.

I’m often amazed at the size of lots in the US and people complaining how small they are. Source is HGTV.

 

[Jules]

Yesterday there was a house I wanted to link a photo of. It was in a Vancouver suburb, asking a mere $2.5 million. It looked like the home it that photo Mac posted and had absolutely no land. The interior was boring too.

 

[seadoug]

Funny story. We have a front-facing garage door (not a "garage nose") but our neighbor across the street has a rear garage door accessed by an alley. When I retired, she brought over a gift for me. She told hubs I used to call on her travel agency. I absolutely knew who she was but never knew she lived across the street because I never saw her coming or going from her house! There is something to be said for front-facing garage doors because they help you get to know your neighbors. Of course, that could be a downside as well!