Old people in big houses

[iris lilies]

By my realm of experience here in the burbs, new construction of single story ranches in middle class neighborhoods are very rare unless it's patio homes. A person almost has to get into older neighborhoods for moderate or smaller sized single story homes. I have neighbors in their 80's and 90's living independently in the smaller 50's ranches around my house and hire out yard chores plus maybe a little help from family or neighbors. I've actually watched for smaller ranches in new developments but have thought there must be some economic benefits about building multistoried larger homes. It seems like a missed market.

I think 1200 to 1500 ft.² is fairly “small “given today’s standards for big everything. These houses are all over and they are mostly single story houses with walkout basements, so there’s a useful lower level if the homeowner wants to finish it. But then they’re all over $300,000 and up so that’s not cheap.