Are there pros to living in a small home?

Is Bigger Really Better?

A new home represents the largest investment for many people in their lives.    Western New Yorkers are conservative in nature and many times they stay in the home longer than the national average of 3-5 years.   Last year I was involved with more than one sale that the people had been in the home over 30 years.    It is understandable that some buyers may want to purchase a home that they can “grow” into.

Today the price of housing is placing stress on many budgets. Home buyers are finding it increasingly difficult to purchase a home.  Today’s home buyer is  being confronted with high mortgage interest rates, mushrooming energy costs, increasing property taxes, and rising maintenance and repair costs.

Read Also:  Is there really such a thing as the Perfect Home?

Often when showing homes to a prospective home buyer they give me a laundry list that includes lots of square footage, 4+ bedrooms, 3+ garages on big lots with lots of space.    Many home buyers are looking to distressed sales hoping to take advantage of someone else’s misfortune.

Read Also: How to get a great Real Estate Deal in Western New York!

Finding a home to be happy in

This is not always what will make them happy.  At times it is important to share some options to buyers that are not finding what it is that they are going to be happy in.  Instead of increasing price range it might be beneficial to look at the criteria of a home.  One of those options is looking at smaller Western New York homes. 

Read More: “Better Living Through Simplicity.”

Are there benefits to purchasing a smaller home?

Larger homes come with large bills and lots of space to maintain and keep clean.    Large lots mean lots of time spent cutting the grass in the summer and driveways to shovel in the winter.   A smaller home will take less resources to run, easier to maintain and will give you more time to enjoy your life as you adjust to home ownership.   Benefits of purchasing a small home include:

Less initial cost

Smaller houses come with smaller price tags as well as less money that in necessary to get into that home.   This will give you the ability to save money for your next home while building equity in your home.   Added benefit to purchasing a small home might just mean that you are not house poor.  Utility and tax bills will be less as well.  All this will put less stress on your budget and overall finances.

Less maintenance

Reality is the more house you have the more you have to maintain and those expenses can be larger in a big home.    Having a small home if you are single is a lot easier to maintain.    Smaller homes are usually on smaller lots, which means that there is less to do outside.   If you like taking advantage of the great outdoor activities year round here in Western New York, you are not going to want to have a huge hose to take care of.

Bigger is not always better

When you have less space you can’t have a lot of clutter and you are forced to purge yourself of all that is unnecessary.

Bottom line, a modest home might be the right choice for your long-term financial future, giving you freedom to enjoy your life without being stressed out by the expense of a larger home.

Read Also: Top 10 Reasons Small Spaces are Better

Small WNY homes for Sale

	79 Hinman Ave Buffalo, NY 14216 $69,900 2 bds 1.1 ba 680 sq ft Status: Active Listing #: B384543 METICULOUS RANCH, GREAT AREA, EVEN BETTER PRICE! THIS HOUSE HAS MANY UPDATES INCLUDING: ARCHITECTURAL ROOF, KITCHEN FLOOR, FULL BATH, AND MORE. HARDWO… Listing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Talarico Real
	2266 Maple Wilson, NY 14172 $180,000 2 bds 1 ba 704 sq ft Status: Active Listing #: B373232 Well kept, with a wonderful views of Lake Ontario home with full poured basement. Large lot south of the property has been perk tested. Large 24×30 ga… Listing courtesy of Hunt Real Estate ERA
	277 Hyde Park Blvd Niagara Falls, NY 14303 $59,000 2 bds 1 ba 720 sq ft Status: Active Listing #: B381120 THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS PROPERTY. WHETHER YOUR A FIRST TIME HOME BUYER OR A FAMILY LOOKING FOR A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, IT CAN ALSO BE ADDED T… Listing courtesy of WNY 24 7 Realty
	75 A St Niagara Falls, NY 14303 $39,900 2 bds 1 ba 720 sq ft Status: Active Listing #: B376344 This 2 bedroom freshly painted home is in move in condition. Updated bathroom, central air and a 2 car garage. Sale includes extra lot (75×115) giving… Listing courtesy of Hooper Realty
	22 Wellworth Pl Cheektowaga, NY 14225 $79,900 3 bds 1 ba 790 sq ft Status: Active Listing #: B379296 Charming all brick cape. Inviting living room, kitchen with adjacent dining area. 2 bedrooms on 1st floor & large bedroom on 2nd floor. Great deck off… Listing courtesy of Stovroff & Taylor Realtors
	37 Clover Pl Cheektowaga, NY 14225 $64,900 2 bds 1 ba 725 sq ft Status: Active Listing #: B383079 PRICED TO SELL !!! GREAT 2 BEDROOM RANCH – AMPLE ROOM SIZES – SURPRISINGLY LARGE CONSIDERING THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE – BEAUTIFUL HARDWOOD FLOORS – UP… Listing courtesy of RealtyUSA
	119 David Ave Cheektowaga, NY 14225 $49,900 2 bds 1 ba 700 sq ft Status: Active Listing #: B378763 Cute as a button!! Nothing to do but move in!! Laminate flooring, recent drywall, electric and windows! Large first floor bdrm! Listing courtesy of RealtyUSA
	869 Pioneer Dr North Tonawanda, NY 14120 $74,900 2 bds 1 ba 754 sq ft Status: Active Listing #: B385175 Original family for 57 years & the pride shows. This very well maintained & move in ready home features an immaculate/dry basement with poured concret… Listing courtesy of RealtyUSA

Call Colleen Kulikowski at (716) 650-0051 to discuss what is happening in today’s Western New York Real Estate Market.  We would be happy to give you a personalized Comparative Market Analysis for your home or assist you to purchase a home.   View additional WNY Market Area Statistics here.

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