Downsizing...can you really???

[ATex7239]

We down sized some years ago. From multi acre property to fraction of an acre lot. And couple hundred sq ft down size in house as well.

Don’t miss it one bit. Less house to heat/cool. Less spaces to clean. I don’t miss tending to a bunch of land either. Don’t even own a mower anymore and I’m not sad about it. I thought my kids were going to be upset about it, but they couldn’t have cared less. Ended up taking A LOT of stuff to the landfill during the move.

You just got to make the leap.

 

[Skippy722]

2,000sq ft “small”

 

[Dave Hess]

Too late I already own lots there....

With or without homes ?

 

[Zee09]

With or without homes ?

Mike Holmes

 

[Wolf359]

You're lucky to have 2000 square feet.

 

[vwmaniaman]

I had a 1500 SQ Ft double wide when I met my 2nd wife.. It was a fine size for me and had a detached 3 car garage. I added another 3 car garage. Then we bought a retirement home. She is a machine quilter and her machine is 12.5 ft long. It didn't fit well in the mobile home. We then bought a 3950 sq ft home near the lake as a retirement and hobby home. We love it and have lived there part time for 13 years. Then her daughter and my middle son got together and we had a grand daughter. They are near the mobile home. You can guess where we spend most of our time. We now have a new second grand daughter. We are not getting any younger. I just want to spend more time in our big home.

 

[Zee09]

I had a 1500 SQ Ft double wide when I met my 2nd wife.. It was a fine size for me and had a detached 3 car garage. I added another 3 car garage. Then we bought a retirement home. She is a machine quilter and her machine is 12.5 ft long. It didn't fit well in the mobile home. We then bought a 3950 sq ft home near the lake as a retirement and hobby home. We love it and have lived there part time for 13 years. Then her daughter and my middle son got together and we had a grand daughter. They are near the mobile home. You can guess where we spend most of our time. We now have a new second grand daughter. We are not getting any younger. I just want to spend more time in our big home.

Funny an old friend of mine and her mother moved to Florida 12 years ago in a 2200 sq ft house and they got into some type of commercial sewing with the mother being 82 and now she needs a bigger home...

I don't like being limited...

 

[vwmaniaman]

That quilter is huge. About 5 ft wide and 12.5 long. She has a sewing room that is 24 X 30. Its over the top of my garage.. My garage is a drive trough one.

 

[nickaluch]

I downsized when my two oldest went off to college. Best thing I did cut my bills to nothing plenty of room for us. Easy to clean and maintain as we're getting older can easily afford to retire here and snow bird down to Florida

 

[Quattro Pete]

Wife and I moved from a 3,100sq home to a 1,200 sq ft 2-br apartment. We managed. It was supposed to be temporary, but 10 years later we're still here.

 

[Zee09]

Wife and I moved from a 3,100sq home to a 1,200 sq ft 2-br apartment. We managed. It was supposed to be temporary, but 10 years later we're still here.

Is that good or????

 

[Nick1994]

I'm just going to roll my eyes at the "small 2,000 sq ft house" comment.

There's 4 of us here in a 1,500 sq ft house and 6 dogs. There's no room at the inn.

 

[Zee09]

I'm just going to roll my eyes at the "small 2,000 sq ft house" comment.

There's 4 of us here in a 1,500 sq ft house and 6 dogs. There's no room at the inn.

Hey if you need to roll your eyes that's fine by me. Obviously we don't live the same which I have no problem with but that doesn't change reality.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Is that good or????

No, not really. Job situations and need for flexibility kind of pushed us in this direction, and then covid happened. If 10 years ago you told me I'd still be in the same place, I would have thought you're insane. It's time to move - we just don't know where yet.

 

[manicrodder]

I always lived in large houses and as a young adult I also ran a mail order business from my house as well.

Soon I plan to move and have just one vehicle and cut business way back. A few machines and not much else.

How do you know if you can live in a small 2000 sq ft. house?
And you are moving from a area where you have basements bigger than that to a no basement state like Florida.
I am not a collector or hoarder but just like space...

We have been in our house for almost a year and a half. It's 897 ft.² with a full basement. The attached (added)garage is 720 ft.² with an 18 foot door. Works out well for us
I used to kid Cindy and and tell her my dream home would be an 8 x 30 trailer and a 10 car garage.

 

[Skippy722]

I'm just going to roll my eyes at the "small 2,000 sq ft house" comment.

There's 4 of us here in a 1,500 sq ft house and 6 dogs. There's no room at the inn.

1 dog is too many… but 6?!?!?!

And for the record, I don’t hate dogs… In fact I love other peoples dogs, but we have poor planning skills (I.e we don’t plan trips or anything… or children!) and having a dog makes that very difficult.

 

[Zee09]

No, not really. Job situations and need for flexibility kind of pushed us in this direction, and then covid happened. If 10 years ago you told me I'd still be in the same place, I would have thought you're insane. It's time to move - we just don't know where yet.

Best of luck to you Pete.

 

[Zee09]

We have been in our house for almost a year and a half. It's 897 ft.² with a full basement. The attached (added)garage is 720 ft.² with an 18 foot door. Works out well for us
I used to kid Cindy and and tell her my dream home would be an 8 x 30 trailer and a 10 car garage.

Yeah but that full basement and big garage put you in a different zone.
In Florida the garage is very important but the basic lots unless you move way out in the country are small. But I will be a minimalist on my personal possessions. Still need to run a business to eat though...lol

 

[bbhero]

Zee09 my wife and I live in a 1,000 sq ft apartment... Have been here now almost 10 years...

Still really enjoy living here. Very high end area with 3,000 to 4,000+ sq ft home right next to our area. With a nice "regular " neighborhood aka 2,300-2,700 sq ft homes in between us and the very high end custom built homes 4,000-6,000 sq ft.

My mom and step father are talking about downsizing too. They downsized in 2015 from a 3,400 sq ft home with a 2 car garage and a separate 28 by 32 foot garage and 5+ acres of land be to a 1.2 acre piece of land and a 2,400 sq ft home with a single garage and a separate 28 by 32 foot garage too.

I'm not sure where they will end up. .

Hard to find places that are rather nice yet not too expensive either.... There are older people retirement neighborhoods nearby us but they want $450,000 plus for those places... And my mom and step father's current home is likely valued at 330,000 to 340,000 maybe... ? And they don't want a payment either.... I just don't know how that will work out for them.

Downsizing can be quite tricky...

I think my mom and step father are getting ready to discover that for themselves soon.

 

[Jetronic]

I always lived in large houses and as a young adult I also ran a mail order business from my house as well.

Soon I plan to move and have just one vehicle and cut business way back. A few machines and not much else.

How do you know if you can live in a small 2000 sq ft. house?
And you are moving from a area where you have basements bigger than that to a no basement state like Florida.
I am not a collector or hoarder but just like space....

You live more outdoors.