Comments on: Comment of the Day: Little Houses Not Far from Prairie St. http://swamplot.com/comment-of-the-day-little-houses-not-far-from-prairie-st/2009-05-11/ Houston, Texas real estate development, home buying, landscape, and design Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:35:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: EMME http://swamplot.com/comment-of-the-day-little-houses-not-far-from-prairie-st/2009-05-11/#comment-27940 EMME Wed, 13 May 2009 19:02:19 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=8955#comment-27940 Oh finness, I feel your pain. I wouldn't want that trash as a neighbor either. Oh finness, I feel your pain. I wouldn’t want that trash as a neighbor either.

]]> By: finness http://swamplot.com/comment-of-the-day-little-houses-not-far-from-prairie-st/2009-05-11/#comment-27924 finness Wed, 13 May 2009 17:24:26 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=8955#comment-27924 Dear John About one of the places just 20k over average, the realtor says (today on HAR.com) "Either remodel for yourself, continue renting the property to tenants or tear it down and build new. This area is in transformation! Listing Price: $174,900 Address 406 Graceland St City / Zip: Houston / 77009-1818 Subdivision: Lindale Park 5" Dear John
About one of the places just 20k over average, the realtor says (today on HAR.com)

“Either remodel for yourself, continue renting the property to tenants or tear it down and build new. This area is in transformation!
Listing Price: $174,900
Address 406 Graceland St
City / Zip: Houston / 77009-1818
Subdivision: Lindale Park 5″

]]> By: John http://swamplot.com/comment-of-the-day-little-houses-not-far-from-prairie-st/2009-05-11/#comment-27920 John Wed, 13 May 2009 17:03:26 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=8955#comment-27920 In the loop includes more than the western half. Yes, some neighborhoods gentrify. That's how it goes. There are lots of affordable spots in the loop though (Lindale Park, Idylwood, etc.) In the loop includes more than the western half. Yes, some neighborhoods gentrify. That’s how it goes. There are lots of affordable spots in the loop though (Lindale Park, Idylwood, etc.)

]]> By: finness http://swamplot.com/comment-of-the-day-little-houses-not-far-from-prairie-st/2009-05-11/#comment-27906 finness Wed, 13 May 2009 15:29:50 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=8955#comment-27906 Point well taken but, as a long time observer, I have see the tsunami in slo-mo. What is in fact happening is that ALL the housing is becoming out of reach for most people. The Houston average house costs about 154k and that don't buy you bupkus in the loop's west side, not even an empty lot. The artists and social workers and teachers and such cannot possibly move in. I know this is what the Mayor wants but I mourn the passing of economic diversity, because my block is basically all rich white people now and the feel has changed - not for the better. As one said to me while I was out doing yard work "Didn't you know? That is why God made Mexicans." Point well taken but, as a long time observer, I have see the tsunami in slo-mo. What is in fact happening is that ALL the housing is becoming out of reach for most people. The Houston average house costs about 154k and that don’t buy you bupkus in the loop’s west side, not even an empty lot. The artists and social workers and teachers and such cannot possibly move in. I know this is what the Mayor wants but I mourn the passing of economic diversity, because my block is basically all rich white people now and the feel has changed - not for the better. As one said to me while I was out doing yard work “Didn’t you know? That is why God made Mexicans.”

]]> By: John http://swamplot.com/comment-of-the-day-little-houses-not-far-from-prairie-st/2009-05-11/#comment-27862 John Wed, 13 May 2009 11:07:27 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=8955#comment-27862 The market fear is a valid point - although a small (less than 800 square feet) house up the street from me (in Sunset Heights) with an asking price of $275/square foot just went under option. (It's a really nice house, and there's plenty of room to add on in the back if one so desires; I considered buying it.) There are people (including me) who value location very, very highly, and would happily trade 200 extra square feet for a great location, and so I think you will see that segment of buyers picking up good small houses. It's a little tough now while the market is soft... but I've seen lots of bigger houses in the heights sitting around for months unsold too. But my bet is that if you fast forward a couple of years you'll see people doing pretty well on these houses. I'm just pointing out that as part of the mix, they are good for a neighborhood. If they are the only thing, then there are a lot of people who will never consider a neighborhood; if there are none, there are people who want to be there but can't afford it; neither of those situations is good. Diverse housing choices are healthy. The ideal situation is when you can go from an apartment to a small house to a bigger house and maybe back to a small low maintenance place in one area as your needs change - that creates stability. The market fear is a valid point - although a small (less than 800 square feet) house up the street from me (in Sunset Heights) with an asking price of $275/square foot just went under option. (It’s a really nice house, and there’s plenty of room to add on in the back if one so desires; I considered buying it.)

There are people (including me) who value location very, very highly, and would happily trade 200 extra square feet for a great location, and so I think you will see that segment of buyers picking up good small houses. It’s a little tough now while the market is soft… but I’ve seen lots of bigger houses in the heights sitting around for months unsold too.

But my bet is that if you fast forward a couple of years you’ll see people doing pretty well on these houses.

I’m just pointing out that as part of the mix, they are good for a neighborhood. If they are the only thing, then there are a lot of people who will never consider a neighborhood; if there are none, there are people who want to be there but can’t afford it; neither of those situations is good. Diverse housing choices are healthy. The ideal situation is when you can go from an apartment to a small house to a bigger house and maybe back to a small low maintenance place in one area as your needs change - that creates stability.

]]> By: finness http://swamplot.com/comment-of-the-day-little-houses-not-far-from-prairie-st/2009-05-11/#comment-27735 finness Tue, 12 May 2009 15:13:00 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=8955#comment-27735 The problem is not whether there is a market for small homes but if there is a market for small homes that cost $300 sq. ft. When a lot costs minimum 200k in the Heights, that is what you get, plus the fear that it will be very hard to sell. When I moved here in 1981, the first thing I was told about Texas was "Nothing succeeds like excess!" It remains true. The problem is not whether there is a market for small homes but if there is a market for small homes that cost $300 sq. ft. When a lot costs minimum 200k in the Heights, that is what you get, plus the fear that it will be very hard to sell. When I moved here in 1981, the first thing I was told about Texas was “Nothing succeeds like excess!” It remains true.

]]> By: EMME http://swamplot.com/comment-of-the-day-little-houses-not-far-from-prairie-st/2009-05-11/#comment-27734 EMME Tue, 12 May 2009 15:11:59 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=8955#comment-27734 I live in 840 sf. Last year I added on a screened in back porch, 400 sf. Love it. Love my house. It is perfect for a single person and I have many dogs and we all get along wonderfully. I oculd probably not move to the suburbs unless I wanted a condo (which I don't) because all the houses are too big for me. Same goes for most of my neighbors. To each his own, but please leave me to my own. I live in 840 sf. Last year I added on a screened in back porch, 400 sf. Love it. Love my house. It is perfect for a single person and I have many dogs and we all get along wonderfully.

I oculd probably not move to the suburbs unless I wanted a condo (which I don’t) because all the houses are too big for me. Same goes for most of my neighbors. To each his own, but please leave me to my own.

]]> By: John http://swamplot.com/comment-of-the-day-little-houses-not-far-from-prairie-st/2009-05-11/#comment-27727 John Tue, 12 May 2009 13:57:57 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=8955#comment-27727 Totally agreed. My friends and family that have 5000 sq ft and larger homes NEVER use all of the space. It's a total waste of their resources. Totally agreed. My friends and family that have 5000 sq ft and larger homes NEVER use all of the space. It’s a total waste of their resources.

]]> By: miss_msry http://swamplot.com/comment-of-the-day-little-houses-not-far-from-prairie-st/2009-05-11/#comment-27716 miss_msry Tue, 12 May 2009 12:18:20 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=8955#comment-27716 Totally agree with this commenter. When we built our retirement/vacation island house, we decided to go small. Our new house is 800 square feet and I don't know why we ever lived in anything bigger ( well we lived in a 1,500 sq.ft. so the kids could have a bedroom, but the kids could have gotten by with less room). It's less expensive for utilities and much easier for me to keep clean. I would recommend smaller to everyone. Totally agree with this commenter.

When we built our retirement/vacation island house, we decided to go small. Our new house is 800 square feet and I don’t know why we ever lived in anything bigger ( well we lived in a 1,500 sq.ft. so the kids could have a bedroom, but the kids could have gotten by with less room).

It’s less expensive for utilities and much easier for me to keep clean.

I would recommend smaller to everyone.

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