Americans Need More Room: Growing Appetite for Bigger Houses

Fox News ^ | May 23, 2007

[2ndDivisionVet]

McMansions are sprouting in the suburbs of Washington and Atlanta, in southern Connecticut and out West in Utah as an appetite for bigger homes just keeps on growing.

One in five American houses had at least four bedrooms in 2005. That's up from one in six in 1990, despite shrinking families and increasing costs for construction and energy.

Houses with five or more bedrooms were the fastest-growing type in that time, adding to the nation's consumption of resources and reputation for excess.

"In this country, bigger is better," said Gopal Ahluwalia, vice president of economic research at the National Association of Home Builders. "This is true for houses and this is true for automobiles."

Utah leads the nation with nearly 40 percent of homes having at least four bedrooms, according to a report Tuesday by the Census Bureau. Demand is high in part because Utah has more people per household (3.07) than any other state.

Evan and Valerie Astle are having a 5,700 square-foot house built in a new subdivision near Ogden because they want more space for their three teenagers. They have been renting a storage unit while living in their old, 2,100-square foot home.

That won't be a problem in the new house, which has four big bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms and a three-car garage.

"Our kids have more stuff. They need more living space," said Valerie Astle, a grade-school teacher. "Our (old) house was fine when they were small, but we've just outgrown it."

[2ndDivisionVet]

I don't see the problem. If a person or family want a bigger house, who is government (read: Al Gore types) to tell them differently? Here in Ft. Worth, one company has a 3,000 square foot model for about $120,000.