Track homes why so popular?

These are popular in Anchorage, too. Not quite 10 per acre, but pretty bad in a lot of areas.

 

They are building that way here in the Dallas area too. I think it comes down to basic urban sprawl. The builders can put more houses on an acre and make more money or another view would be they can sell more houses, because keeping the land portion of the expense down per house, allows them to keep the new construction price down as they "stamp out" houses, making them more affordable to perspective buyers.

 

The more $700,000+ homes they can squeeze into tiny square yards, the higher return.. but at what cost to the mental health to the community? There is something to be said about cramming people and families together. Everyone needs their space, literally.

 

Just to be pedantic, they are "tract" homes.

And yeah, it's pretty awful, but some people don't like yard work. The average lot size in England is 1/8 acre, maybe those builders went there on vacation?

 

Personally, I like a larger lot, and have been looking for some nice reasonably priced acreage lately (for future building of a home). I grew up in the northeast and the lots in general are bigger there.

An interesting thought I am having is about Europe. In my experience, they build "villages" that have small lots or "zero" lot line. Then there is open space outside the village. I was actually suprised my first trip over there, how much open space there still was over there. Perhaps there is something to be said for the smaller lots.

 

It's the commoditization of the American Hyper-consumer.

Cookie-cutter houses for cookie-cutter people living on the edge of a financial cliff, one pay check...one interest rate increase from disaster; who have to drive showy SUVs, financed of course, and shop at the newest malls.

Urban sprawl populated by hollow people with banal, meaningless lives seeking affirmation with cheap and trendy products produced by a soulless mega-corporations funneling money to the corporate officers who do not live in such houses.

Do you feel sorry for 8,000 chickens crowded in a 40 by 200 foot chicken house? Feel sorry for those calves kept in 3x 6 foot pens? Fly over any big city and see the real tragedy.

Have a nice day!

 

Look in the southeast. I bought 16 acres of beautiful land for $50K. A nearby plot of 56 acres went for $155K before I could snap it up. Listed one day sold the next. Darn!

I lived in a village in Germany exactly like that. Everyone lived close together but the village was surrounded by farmland and forest. So we could all walk to all the stores and restaurants in the village, use the single bus stop to commute to anywhere, and still had open land all around us. Nice.

 

It's big in Atlanta too. I talked to my estate agent when looking for a house (1999) about it and was told that these "tract" houses were the preferred choice for 85-90% of her clients. They liked them because:

1.) No yard work.
2.) No trees so no leaves in gutters
3.) They get a "big" house, ie, they spend % more on house than land.
4.) It is close to road so everyone can see "their" home.
5.) they can feel comfortable with the neighbors. I guess this means that they all expect everyone else to be just like them.


What is amazing is that these paces continue to go up in value. I have the opposite, so to speak-I have a 1-ish acre lot full of trees, etc. The whole neighborhood is like that and each house is different in layout and looks. I have trees so close to the home that squirrels can jump onto roof from overhanging branches. It is very quiet, the neighborhood has a wide mix of types, etc.

So you figure a high demand area right?, well the next neighborhood, a bloody tract land outsells us probably 2-1. Go figure!!!

 

Our neighborhood association here in Lake Highlands successfully lobbied against a 10 detached-house-per-acre development on an old church property; they're going back to the drawing boards to get 5 or 6 much more expensive houses per acre...I still cringe at the thought of what's probably going to get built, from a critical architectural POV. But, at least this is inner-city, the land is $$$, and the buyers will be longterm "endusers" that will maintain them well.

The sad thing about neighborhoods like Dr. Uro dramatically described is that they're throwaway...I was in an area of north Plano recently...houses probably 10-15 years old, decent design and construction, brick exteriors, rear garages, single family lots, maybe 50x130...and the whole area had an air of neglect and abandonment. Obviously they were originally occupied by firstime buyers and now house transient owners and renters. The big surprise for me was to see such a relatively closein and well located area gone to seed so quickly.

Yeah, the tract builders really hype the "lifestyle" they're offering...come back 5 years later and check it out.

 

Well put!!! This seems to be the "biggest bang" for 1st time home buyers in Washington/Oregon as well. Tract shack builders will sell their souls to stir up some "luxury living" feel in there developments! But what does happen to these poorly built homes in five years??? Vinyl siding/Formica counters...one should dare to dream!!!

 

Both well put.

Most people don't have many options these days.

1. They don't have the $ or the credit to pay custom build/land prices.
2. They don't have the time/money or ability to take on a fixer-upper that they might be able to put more equity into.
3. Banks like nice, new, no stories, non-money trap homes (for now)
4. People have lower standards these days
5. It's easy

 

What's wrong with vinyl siding ?

 

They're popular in some of the newer developments. There are less expensive subdivisions in my development that have them but I wouldn't want to live in one. It's kind of weird if you ask me.

 

Nothing, if properly applied and combined with other materials in a reasoned way: constructionally sound and aesthetically appropriate and pleasing.

The problem is that the tract builders just slap it on every surface after they've met their quota for exterior brick-veneer square footage, and don't pay attention to detail, correct weathersealing and mating with other materials, etc.

 

Nothing "wrong" with it...it just fit with the joke. Didn't mean to offend...



RK

 

I have always been perplexed by those that move to the suburds only to buy a big house on a small lot. I for one would much rather have a small house on several acres...in fact, I'de rather have a shack on several acres than a mansion on one...I have been blessed enough to have both a nice house and several acres which my family enjoys....my childrens could never now live in a neighborhood of houses even on 1 acre lots! When they spend the night with friends in such neighborhoods they always come back home and comment how they feel sorry for their friend as they have no woods to play in or no creek to splash around in or no trails to ride the golf cart on...or no deer, raccoons or other wildlife to marvel over... They're is nothing like having the privacy of not being able to see another house nor your neighbors being able to see yours. If you don't want acrerage, just stay in the city and buy a condo...everyone moving to the suburds just to live in a box on 1/3 acre is what makes traffic so terrible every day.

 

I'm buying a condo if anything.. no yard maintenance or bs. I'm a single girl, I don't need to worry about lawn care or having a huge place to myself.

 

We have what you would call no lot homes priced all the way up to the millions and the reason people move in them is they are closer in, they have new useable floorplans instead of closed up old styles and have you looked at the inside of a 30 year old house that has not been redone lately? It is just as easy to buy a lot and build a new house. Many people also want an association to help keep the neighborhood looking good which didn't exist in many older communities. Some people don't like it when their neighbors park boats etc. in the yard. Land is nice but I would rather live in a nice house on a small lot than a crappy house on a large lot.

 

Not I...you can always remodel an old house, which are almost always built better than newer houses,or you can tear down or move and sell an old house and build a nicer house on acreage, but you can never build more acreage around a nice house...last time I looked, God ain't making any more land...

 

Well said, here in Atlanta the smart money is either remodeling or tearing down with the same intent. A better lot in a better location.