When I
first moved into a bigger apartment, I was really surprised that I missed my
first TINY apartment…a lot! Not because it was my first place, but because it
was so easy and fast to clean! (I could vacuum it with a hand-vac, ha!). Plus I
had a place for everything and everything was in its place; it was my perfect
little dollhouse.
Although
I’m older now and in a not-too-huge house of my own, there’s much to be said
about small-home living. Here are just a few benefits:
1. Gain TIME – It’s easier and faster to maintain.
A
bigger house has more nooks and crannies to gather dirt and dust and STUFF that
gathers its own dirt and dust. Having a small home allows you to keep it super
clean and tidy with minimal time and effort, freeing your time for what you
really want to do: gardening, biking, spending time with friends, studying,
crafting, traveling, you name it.
2. A small house is less expensive.
It
isn’t just the purchase price that’s less, but also the heating and cooling bills,
maintenance costs, insurance, and taxes. That adds up! What are some goals you
have that could be met faster if you didn’t have such a huge mortgage or
maintenance costs?
3. Closeness encourages closeness.
You
can’t help but be close to people you’re literally close to! You’ll never
regret spending dinner with your kids and spouse close together at a table
talking and enjoying a meal. In a 3,000 SF house, it’s easy for one person to
spend it playing games downstairs while another spends it watching a movie
upstairs. Where’s the connection there? When you’re together, you can’t help
but to start chatting, sharing, or just enjoying each other’s company in
silence (my favorite, haha!).
4. Easier to sell later.
Smaller
homes are in more demand than big expensive ones because a wider range of folks
can afford them – Generation Z just starting out, empty nesters, first-time
homebuyers at any age, middle income families, and just plain frugal folks
(that’s me). You’ll really appreciate the fast sell when you need to
relocate to another state for a job or family. OR, keep it as a rental. Smaller
homes make great rentals. Plus because your mortgage is smaller, the going
rental rate is likely enough for your renter to cover all of it PLUS enough to
put aside for repairs and maintenance. That’s a great way to build real estate
equity for free!
5. Less likely to accumulate clutter.
For me, physical clutter is mental clutter. Living in a small home means one is more likely to give away stuff that’s no longer needed but useful to another.
6. Reduced commute.
Houses
in the city cost more but they’re also closer to work for many. What does a
reduced commute mean to you? Maybe more time with the spouse and kids? More
time to get to the gym? More time to work on your side gig? Less irritation
with traffic? Decide on being content with a smaller home and you’ll get closer
to the city and perhaps closer to some of your time management and financial
goals.
Written by Daisy Casillas, 1% Real Estate Agent
Share the love about 1% listings:
Daisy Casillas 