Homes Still Getting Bigger, Survey Says
July 19th, 2010 categories: Chicago Info/News
Yes, we’re still dealing with the aftereffects of the Great Recession. And, yes, housing prices, in Chicago and across the nation have fallen. A growing number of homeowners are underwater on their mortgage loans, owing more on them than what their residences are worth.
But even with all this we have it good, both in the United States and in Chicago.
At least that’s what the 2009 American Housing Survey by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says. The Chicago Sun-Times recently ran a story highlighting the results of this survey. According to the survey, U.S. homes are getting larger, and the vast majority of them have the modern conveniences that we now take for granted.
The Sun-Times story showed that, according to the survey, the median size of an occupied home in the country is 1,800 square feet. That’s up from 1,600 square feet in 1985. Homes built since 2007 have a median size of 2,300 square feet, according to the survey.
These houses also come with more rooms. According to the study, 64 percent of homes today have three or more bedrooms. This is a big jump from 1973, when 48 percent of homes had three or more bedrooms. We also have more bathrooms today, with 51 percent of U.S. residences having two or more. In 1973, only 19 percent had two or more bathrooms.
Finally, most homes have the modern conveniences that make life easier. According to the survey, 98 percent of homes have a telephone, 66 percent a dishwasher, 84 percent a washing machine, 99 percent complete plumbing facilities and 65 percent central air conditioning.
The Sun-Times story also contained some interesting information about Chicagoans and how they live. According to the story, about 60 percent of households in the Chicago area live in residences that they own. That is in line with most of the nation, where about 59 percent of households live in homes that they own. In Chicago, 51 percent of homeowners live in single-family detached homes. Across the country, though, 63 percent of homeowners live in these types of residences.
Hi
Great information in this post and I think the homes built since 2007 have a median size of 2,300 square feet, according to the survey.