Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:53:32 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2015 22:39:17 GMT
We built our first home a couple of years after we were married. It was 1,200 sq. ft., and we lived in that home until our triplets were 3 years old. Then we built our 2nd home which was 2,200 sq. ft., and we only lived there for 10 months before hubby was transferred. Our 3rd home we built was 3,200 sq. ft., and we lived in that for 14 years. Our home now is 5,400 sq. ft., and I don't plan on moving again. I love where we are and feel like this is our dream home/vacation home.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:53:32 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2015 22:43:17 GMT
We're in our starter home. It's probably 2000 square feet. I think there's about 1600 square feet finished. I'm not sure I would want to go much bigger. A garage would be nice.
|
|
Peal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,524
Jun 25, 2014 22:45:40 GMT
|
Post by Peal on May 17, 2015 0:47:59 GMT
Our first home was 2100 sq feet. But it wasn't really our starter home. We had three kids and had lived in multiple states and overseas before we bought.
Dh just put an offer on a home for him to live in for the next year. It's 925 sq feet, no garage, 110 years old, in a one stoplight town. It had multiple offers the first day it was listed. It's a HUD home, so the buyer is supposed to reside in it for the first year. We are waiting to hear if he gets it, I'm concerned we wont and there isn't much else available in the area that meets his requirements. Who knew starter homes were such hot commodities.
|
|
|
Post by jackietex on May 17, 2015 1:30:12 GMT
House #1 was 2400 sq. feet, purchased before children, we moved 10 years later when it looked like they might open up our dead-end street and put much less expensive homes in or change the zoning to allow for a gas station.
House #2 was 3050 sq. feet, stayed 3 years, moved to be closer to our children's private school that had moved several miles away and took half an hour each way. Dh was only home on weekends and I didn't want to spend two hours a day in the car. I LOVED this house and the property, and it was in a very nice neighborhood with mostly custom homes, but, for some reason, I never felt truly safe.
House #3 has about 4200 sq. feet. We've been here 13 years and have no plans to move. Dh and I plan to live on the first floor and ignore the second floor once everybody moves out permanently. This house is about a mile from the home that we rented when we first got married.
|
|
|
Post by CarolinaGirl71 on May 17, 2015 2:24:45 GMT
Starter home - 1200 sf. #2 - 2500 sf. #3 - 3500 sf. #4 1800 sf. #5 3900 sf. (we downsized too early with #4). Now we are thinking about downsizing again!
|
|
scrapnnana
Drama Llama

Posts: 6,637
Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
|
Post by scrapnnana on May 17, 2015 2:27:04 GMT
My home, which we still live in, is between 1600 to 1900 sq. feet-there is a discrepancy between what is on file at the county government and what our home purchase paperwork claimed.
We raised five kids in our three bedroom home. We made it work because we had to, but it was tight. We had two to three kids sharing a bedroom at all times.
|
|
|
Post by peasful1 on May 17, 2015 3:10:22 GMT
The first home we bought together was 3,000 sq ft. We had two kids at the time and then added a 3rd. We stayed in it for 10 years.
|
|
|
Post by ametallichick on May 17, 2015 5:55:28 GMT
My first house was 1,230 sq ft and about a mile or two from the house I grew up in. Not a good neighborhood by then though. It was almost 50 years old, had thin, french pane windows and my power bill was $400 in the summer. After the second burglary, I said "that's it" and we sold it and moved across town in to a brand new home that is 2,200 sq ft. I'm somewhat happy here (we've been here 20 years) but I want a 1 story now, 3 car garage and a pool. And, this house has the worst storage in the world. NONE!
|
|
|
Post by Ryann on May 17, 2015 7:31:50 GMT
The only house we've purchased is 1800 sf 3 bd + office, 2 1/2 bath. We didn't buy until we were in our mid 30s, though. We had moved to a community right after getting married where we thought we'd only stay 1-2 years and the market was super depressed. We didn't want to be saddled with something we couldn't sell. Then, by the time we decided to stay longer term, the market had exploded and was super overvalued. So, we didn't buy then either. We ended up living in that community for the first 10 years of our marriage and rented the whole time. We finally bought our house when we moved where we are now. So, ours might not be a traditional "starter home," but it's the first home we've owned, so for us, it is. Our story is similar too, although the reasons are different. We just purchased our first house last year. We rented a condo, then a house for the first 7+ years of being married. We never planned to buy a house until our tax accountant put the idea in our heads last spring, and by fall, we were homeowners. Our "starter" home is 1600 sq ft with 3bd/2ba. It's typically just the two of us (and 2 cats) but my 21yo step-son has been staying with us since January and I don't see any end in sight. That's a story for another time, though. Sigh. ETA: I'm mid-30s and DH is about 7 years older.
|
|
|
Post by k8smom on May 17, 2015 8:35:29 GMT
What was supposed to be our starter home 22 years ago, 1375 sf, 3 bed, 3 bath, became my forever home 9 years ago after my divorce. Funny thing is, I always hated this house and complained about it until I got divorced. Post divorce I was so thankful to have a home that I could afford on my own, that meant stability and the least amount of change to my kids, and that I could update however I wanted. My kids are grown now and it's not too much for me on my own, and I have spent the last 9 years doing DIY projects to make it just how I want it. I am blessed, I am thankful for my little house.
|
|
psiluvu
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,217
Location: Canada's Capital
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:26 GMT
|
Post by psiluvu on May 17, 2015 13:02:35 GMT
When we bought our home we planned to buy something we were staying in forever. We had no kids yet but were planning on them. We bought a 2700 square foot 4 bedroom in a neighborhood with good schools and amenities. We also wanted a mortgage that would be paid off before our first child was in University. We have been lucky and it has all worked out. We are still here and it will be paid off in September 2016 when DD is in grade 12.
I grew up in apartment buidlings and ALWAYS wanted a house of my own so there was years of planning before we bought.
|
|
Julie W
Drama Llama

Posts: 5,209
Jun 27, 2014 22:11:06 GMT
|
Post by Julie W on May 17, 2015 13:05:29 GMT
1400 SF for 2 of us, and too big in my opinion!
|
|
|
Post by gonewalkabout on May 17, 2015 13:23:51 GMT
Ours was about 1000 sq' but we've moved about 18 times since then and have lived in a variety of sized houses from 1500 to nearly 4000. Depending on if we rented or bought. Right now we're in a small 2 bedroom 1000 sq' apartment with kids, a large dog and 2 cats. We'll be here for at least another year.
|
|
|
Post by pierkiss on May 17, 2015 13:24:21 GMT
We just bought our first home so I guess technically it is our "starter" home. I'm not moving again before my children are grown and out of the house unless I absolutely have to. I adore this house. It has everything and is in a perfect neighborhood. 
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:53:32 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on May 17, 2015 13:30:24 GMT
Ours was 1700 sq ft, a cape cod style with two bedrooms downstairs and two upstairs. We made lots of changes (new windows, door, driveway, roof) because we couldn't afford to move and loved our cul de sac street. Lived there 23 years and raised both kids in that "starter" house.
|
|