If builders would build smaller homes, maybe people could afford them.
True enough and people can ask or search for contractors who will do so.
That seems logical, but .... I mentioned this here once before and was educated on the economics for the builder of building small vs large., even very large.
Less for materials, of course, but land mass about the same, and plumbing, electrical, time spent on a 20 foot wall vs 12, well, septic or municipality hookups, landscaping, paperwork, etc. too close and too expensive to extend for a small finished price.