Big house, little house

Did you know: Australia can lay claim to having the largest homes in the world. The average floor area of new homes hit a record high of 214.6 square metres (2009/10). The average floor area of new free-standing houses was also at a record high of 245.3m². 
The United States has traditionally possessed the largest homes in the world. But for the first time in a decade, new homes in the US are shrinking. In 2010, the average size of new homes started in the US stood at 201.5m², with the average new house estimated at 217.8m².

Why would you want a huge house – it has to be cleaned, heated, furnished. - it wouldn't be very cosy. Plus the Australian family is shrinking in size (average of 2.56) - you could go for days without seeing your family as  you all rattle about in the McMansion.   Look at these stats, the most common household is a couple with no kids - so why would they need such a large home. 
  • In 2006-07, couple families with no children were the most common type of family (40%), followed by couple families with dependent children (37%).
  • In 2006, there were 1.9 million people living alone in Australia; by 2031 it is projected that between 3.0 million and 3.6 million people will be living alone.
Are we going to end up with a heap of empty large homes that no one wants.

PS I find this stuff is really fascinating!!!

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Comments

  1. We live in a very affluent part of Canberra (t was the only place Defence Housing could supply a home large enough for our family! We do feel quite out of place!!) and some of the houses are enormous. One recently built was dubbed by us, during it's construction, as "The Private Hospital" because it reminded me of the lovely place I gave birth to my first child. Another we call "The Museum" because it has such a large facade and entry, and another is "The Orphanage" as it is long and has dormitory-like windows all along the one side.

    The people across the road have a house at least twice as big as ours (probably even bigger) and they are an older couple with grown up children who come and visit occasionally. I have never seen any lights on at night except in the kitchen/living area. I have often wanted to ask them what they do with the rest of the rooms!

    My son frequently points out a big mansion and says "Would you like to live in that house mum?" To which I always answer, "No, it's probably got more than two bathrooms to clean and I would spend so much time keeping the rest of the house tidy I would never get to see my family."

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  2. That top picture looks like a museum or some such thing!!!!
    Mum-me, your busy household must be a breathe of fresh air in such a neighbourhood!
    I like that our large country town has very few pretensious huge houses. When driving around in Brisbane, my SIL showed me some of the huge houses close to them. (They are upmarket bathroom suppliers) Wow! monstrosities!!! Huge, ugly buildings (no hominess at all in my opinion) and no yard :-(
    I find this stuff fascinating, too, Jo!

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  3. Jo, I prefer modest and homey. I think the large homes/mansions look all show, but no heart.

    If you have a large family with lots of children, then it would be needful for a larger home than most require. Like Mum-me. But, other than that, it is just extra work.

    I love homes/houses etc... that is what landed me my job as property manager. I enjoy seeing the personality of a home created by the people in it.

    ps. so far so good with Darcy. Hopefully he will be home tonight. It seems we got it early enough but hopefully no side effects later on. I have heard of dogs dying a year later, or more, because of a tick. But, the Lord is good, right down to our beloved pets. Thanks for your prayers, I appreciate them.

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  4. Mum-me: did you check out the link for the second house. It is in Hall and looks lovely, but I am sure it will have a very big price tag. The gardens look very lovely. Imagine keeping those big houses in Canberra warm in winter - ours is a basic 3 bedroom and we get a large gas bill every winter -what would theirs be like.


    Ruby - the bigger the house the less homely their feel. They also seem to lack any real character.


    Amanda - I am glad to hear that Darcy is doing ok today - but one never know if an animal will take the turn for the worse.

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  5. I did check out the link, Jo. It looks like a beautiful home but what interested me was that it only had 3 bedrooms yet enough garage space for 6 cars!! That's affluent.

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  6. One of the things that concerns me with this fixation with big houses is that they don't have much of a yard!!! I would rather have a small house with plenty of outside space for Rebekah than the other way around!
    Have you heard of "nature deficit disorder" - I feel for the kids growing up these days that are always indoors - mostly in those big houses!

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  7. I'm with Rosemary. More yard, less house ~ but then I'm a gardener, not a housekeeper. I think all this big pretensious stuff is to cover up people's emptiness inside ~ like the cars that drive round with the silly bumper sticker that says He who dies with the most toys wins. Absolute nonsence.

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  8. Jo,
    2nd photo: did you see the studio out the back, we could come and stay in that gorgeous garden...! We have a big house for two people, but when we retire, it it was designed as an investment as we downsize to a smaller house, we should have a bit of cash left over to help with retirement. We built it though so only one half of the house has to be heated or cooled, completely independent to the other half (insulated central wall deviding the house)
    LL S

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  9. Stephen, I would love to buy that second house but it is likely to sell for over $1 million, so not in consideration. But aren't the gardens beautiful and the house is lovely too. Not sure what I would do with the six car garage!!!

    joyfulmum - we have a suburb nearby that all the houses are built on small blocks so the houses fill up all the space and the kids play in the street, which is quite dangerous with the cars but the whole stranger danger issue as well.

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  10. A large house would be wonderful with a large family, but without the people to use and fill and help clean the space, it seems like a useless waste. I was surprised to read that we have the biggest average houses! I think it's sad that most houses conatin no children here in Australia.
    I too hate a house with little land - which is why it has been so hard for us to find a new place to move to that fits all our criteria!
    I find this stuff fascinating too, Jo :)

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  11. ~~~give me a cozy little cottage anyday. I am too OLD to spend my days having to clean and look after a big house! I am ready to DOWN size!

    Vicki

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  12. I know I wouldn't want a huge house. But I guess if you could afford a huge house you could afford someone to clean it! LOL! I just want an extra room for a craft room. I have my priorities. Hee! Hee!
    There are so many foreclosures over here that I don't think there are too many new houses being built. Everyone is either renting or buying homes cheap!
    Have a great day!
    Kim

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  13. I know I wouldn't want a huge house. But I guess if you could afford a huge house you could afford someone to clean it! LOL! I just want an extra room for a craft room. I have my priorities. Hee! Hee!
    There are so many foreclosures over here that I don't think there are too many new houses being built. Everyone is either renting or buying homes cheap!
    Have a great day!
    Kim

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  14. I think big homes look fascinating. I do prefer the coziness of my little home though. My family in Venezuela live in mini mansions without carpeting. They have red brick shiny floors and instead of vacuum cleaners they have these waxing machines for the floors.

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