The Real Deal

Home > Real Estate > Archives > 2006 > June > 23 > Entry

Super-size our cribs



OK, OK, I’m sure you’re as tired of the phrase McMansion as I am.

But here’s one more reason to invoke the M word: Our houses keeping growing bigger and bigger, even as the lots under them get smaller.

That’s according to new research by the Census Department and the National Association of Home Builders.

The average floor area of a new home in 2005 reached an all-time high of 2,434 square feet — up from an average 2,349 square feet in 2004 and just 1,645 square feet in 1975, NAHB says.

New cribs are getting taller, too. The portion of two-story homes has soared, and some 58 percent of new single-family homes have ceilings that are nine feet or higher on the first floor. That’s up from only 15 percent three decades ago.

Plus, nearly 40 percent of new homes have four or more bedrooms, up from 21 percent in 1975.

And garage-doors are growing to fit big SUVs. The one-car garage door that once measured 7 feet by 9 feet now is 8 feet by 10 feet.

But one thing about our homes is getting smaller: the amount of land surrounding these juiced-up homes. Census data says the median lot size dwindled to 8,500 square feet in 2005 from 10,000 square feet in 1990.

But the builders group says soaring land prices mean lots still make up a quarter of the bill for a new home.


Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Jeff Ostrowski

Comments

By bubba

June 23, 2006 11:36 AM | Link to this

Does anybody know of any areas in Jupiter Farms where you don’t need septic/well?

The lot sizes out there are great and are much much bigger than Abacoa/Paseos/etc., and you aren’t really far from everything in Jupiter and the Gardens, but I don’t trust well water.

By Reecy Aresty

June 25, 2006 11:55 AM | Link to this

You did a nice article on me 2 years ago, and I’ve got a great story for you:

Parents Can Avoid The Poorhouse Before Students Enter College

Much of that anticipated debt can be legally eliminated, and before it’s too late. While so many families stress out over the prospect of how much they and their student(s) will incur during the college years, help in on the way.

Boca Raton, FL June 26, 2006 — “Any college is affordable” says Reecy Aresty, the nation’s foremost authority on college admissions and financial aid. Author of the everything-you-need-to-know manual, Getting into College and Paying for It!, the only book of its kind available in Spanish, he’s a veteran radio and TV guest pioneering a subject of immense concern to millions of American and Hispanic families.

With over 25 years of playing the financial aid game, Aresty says, “In the financial aid formulas, students have no asset protection allowance. For college year 2007-2008, 20% of every dollar they have will be lost in financial aid.” Parents are more fortunate; they’re only assessed at 5.6% over their allowance. However, if the student is about to enter college and is unfortunate enough to have a hefty bank balance or brokerage account, it already cost them 25% or 35% in lost financial aid, depending on the college.

But here’s the good news: “We can make them penniless in the blink of an eye and legally reposition the money into one of 2 financial vehicles that are outside the purview of the financial aid formulas and possibly get them more financial aid for the 2nd semester; if that tactic fails, then surely for the sophomore and ensuing years.” What a relief to know that!

Some of Reecy’s unique financial aid strategies which have literally saved families millions over the years include: the ambiguous non-custodial parent strategy, the winter clothing allowance, the “no work” work-study award, and for 99% of his clients, appealing the unappealing financial aid offer and negotiating for the best possible financial aid package. “It‘s just like buying a new car” he says, “you don’t have to pay the sticker price.” One other strategy few families are aware of is Professional Judgment. This comes into play when there has been a significant change in family income, marital status or health.

Reecy Aresty and his book, Getting Into College And Paying For It! expose the truth. He also reveals numerous admissions strategies to guarantee the student that all-important edge to the college of their choice at application time, because as Reecy says, “all the financial aid in the world is worthless without an admission ticket.”

Here’s what some of the media have said about Reecy and his exposé of the system:

“Reecy Aresty is an informed, interesting, and complete source on all matters relative to circumnavigating and understanding the quagmire that funding for higher education is in this day and age.” Brad Shepard, WHYN News Talk 560, Springfield, MA

“A helpful family guide to college financing: Don’t despair if you have an acceptance letter, but not enough financial aid. Aresty says if you plead your case properly, you could increase your financial aid by thousands of dollars. That’s The Savage Truth!” Terry Savage, TV commentator on CNN, CNBC, PBS, NBC, and Chicago Sun-Times personal finance columnist

“This book could be worth tens of thousands of $$$$ to parents or grandparents facing the rising costs of a college education. I can tell you from first hand experience that Aresty was able to obtain over $18,000 of aid when the semester tuition was only $15,252!”
Bill Finley, Managing Editor of Boomer Times & Senior Life

Reecy’s company, College Assistance, Inc., in conjunction with College Funding Prep of Norfolk, MA presents free monthly seminars that take families from the first day of 9th grade up to and including attending college. For more information or to request a review copy, please call Reecy Aresty at 561.672.7374.

Contact:

reecy@paylessforcollege.com http://www.paylessforcollege.com

#

By Steve

June 25, 2006 06:51 PM | Link to this

Super size our cribs? What are we having fat babies now or something?

By no-ads-reecy

June 26, 2006 03:57 PM | Link to this

Hey reecy, this is a blog not a venue to advertise your crazy bizz.

begone.

By fatties r US (usa)

June 27, 2006 10:58 AM | Link to this

Super-Size Cribs, super-Size meals, Super-Size SUV’s SUPER FAT SOCCER moms in flip flops waddling into walmart to buy super size toilet paper.

ENOUGH. FAT dumb and stupid.

keeping up with the jones.

South FLa and the rest of America need a hard dose of reality. A swift kick in their fat butts. Too much tv, too much time off, too much of precious darling JR. not treated fairly at school.

we need a good 1929 style depression to clean this mess up.

Commenting is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F

Post a comment



Remember me?




*HTML not allowed in comments. Your e-mail address is required.

 

Kudzu.com: Mosquitos are breeding.  Ready for the bites?
Today's deal from DealSwarm.com
AJC Breaking News Updates