subject: What Size House Do You Need? [print this page] The house size that will fit your needs may not be the same as the house you can afford or want. Several factors should be considered when planning a new house or buying an existing home.
On Average
the size of houses, in square feet, for selected countries is: Austria (1,043 sq. feet), Germany (1,185 sq. feet), Japan (1,435), and the United States (2,204). These are 2002 figures.
The Question
then becomes what size house can we build for the amount of the loan we can get? In 1970 the average size home in the U.S. was 1,400 square feet. In 2004 the average grew to 2,230 square feet. Three and four bedroom houses are the most popular, with two baths almost required.
House Finance
should be determined before house hunting or construction drawings are begun. I have had several persons that have paid me to complete blu-prints for a new house and then were told that they could not qualify for the amount necessary to complete the construction. The major items that determine the cost of a house, other than construction costs, are: your income, your current debt-to-income ratio, interest rates, and down payment required. Local lending institutions will use these values and others to determine the amount of the loan you might be able to secure. These values should be determined before implementing house plan design.
Construction Costs
are best determined by talking with local contractors and builders. Be sure to check the Better Business Bureau to help identify builder's background and business standing in the community. The chamber of Commerce is another source for this information. Ask the builders to view houses under construction and a few finished models. Nothing wrong with asking your Architect or designer to go along. Most builders can estimate the cost of constructing your house by the size, of the HVAC (Heat Ventilation Air Conditioned) area you wish to construct. Garage and storage areas are usually figured at a different cost per square foot than the HVAC area. Be sure to have this understanding with the builder.
House Plans
will be needed for construction. I use a simple one page Contract for contractor house plan sets and a simple Inventory sheet to assist in developing design specification for my clients. Do not expect the builder to give you a firm estimate without having a finished set of construction blu-prints to work from. Talking with the builder, prior to design, will allow you to come up with a general idea of cost per square foot and other financial obligations before you design your house.
What size house
do you need not have an easy answer? We usually want more than we actually need. The most important items to consider might be to determine minimum space requirements, plan for possible expansion, re-sale, and comfortable living style at a cost within your means.
