Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Affordable and Small Houses

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On May 25, 2015, at 3:52 PM, Emilie Parker <emilie.v.parker [at] gmail.com> 
> wrote:
> 
> I really love that small house.  Several times I've had it explained to me
> that the small house 900sf-ish single family one story is not a good resale
> prospect in a PUD because the cost to build is just not that much less in
> required sales price than a two story -- 1800sf-ish plus basement.

But you have to heat them and maintain them — refinish floors,  paint, etc. 
Plus have a larger HVAC and tend to accumulate more things. Larger rugs. My 
floors need refinishing and will cost close to $2,000 plus 5 days of living 
somewhere else. Painting will cost the same. In a smaller place it would be 
half that. 

It’s not just about construction costs. What can you afford down the line?

But with a project in Florida, the greatest demand was for one bedrooms and the 
bank refused to fund them. No resale value. And that’s what people wanted!!!!

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org