Population experts tell us more people are living on their own, yet our houses are expanding faster than the waistline of fast-food devotees.

New research shows new houses built in Australia are now the largest in the world, beating even the Americans.

Data commissioned by CommSec shows the Australian house has grown on average by 10 per cent in the past decade to 214sqm - or three times the size of the average British house.

CommSec also suggests that the number of people in each household has risen from 2.51 to 2.56 – the first rise of its nature in around 100 years. It still begs the question though: give or take 0.5, does each person in that house really need 100sqm?

According to The Daily Telegraph, CommSec’s Craig James is giving us the benefit of the doubt. “The increase in size of the average family unit may mean that fewer new homes need to be built,” he said. “Population is rising, as is the cost of housing and the cost of moving house, so we are making greater use of what we’ve got.”

Question is, how much do we need?
 

Keeping up with the Jones clan

In the US, where they’ve been dealing with the ‘big house’ phenomenon for over a decade (were they excited to be relegated to second place this year?), the backlash has begun.

In coastal communities, in particular, the neighbours are, well, revolting against the shoehorning of super-size houses onto small blocks in what are essentially ‘summer cottage’ communities.

But, as The New York Times reports, those same neighbours are not willing to limit their own options. “Perplexed officials say they’re coming to the conclusion that while property owners typically like the idea of restricting the size of neighbor’s [sic] houses, they often balk when it comes down to adopting zoning changes that might limit their own options as well.”

It’s a case of not letting the Jones’s go ‘up’ too far – but not taking away my right to keep up with them one day.
 

How big is too big?

The fact is that a house that’s too big can impact your quality of life as much as one that’s too small. But how do you know what’s too big?

Natural Home magazine suggests considering the following questions (see the full quiz at www.naturalhome.com):

*Is your house so large that you can co-exist with family members without actually running into them?
*Do you have spaces that are rarely used?
*Do you sometimes feel that you are rattling around in the house – as though there’s too much space, but not a sense of place in any of it?
 

Can you afford too big?

While a media room, study, family room, teenagers’ retreat, powder room, parent retreat, formal dining room, sixth bedroom and breakfast ‘nook’ might all seem essential items for any home, you have to ask if you can afford them.

It’s not necessarily about the building or purchase costs now – though these need to be taken into consideration – but the long term heating and cooling, and the environmental impact of an enormous house.

How many lights will you need to turn on to fetch a glass of water from the kitchen? How long will it take – and how many chemicals will you need – to clean it?

The only person who can and should decide on the size of your home is you. Choosing the right property for your needs is about thinking both short- and longterm.

If you’re looking at buying or building, it’s worth asking several estate agents in the area about demand for super-sized houses – now and in the future.

Do your research! 

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