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Buying and Selling Homes

Buy a 2 bedroom house?

17 years ago

What do you think about buying a 2 bedroom house? There seem to be quite a few of them in my metropolitan area. I am not interested in buying a condo because I have a large dog and love to garden.

I'm not necessarily opposed to a 3 bedroom house but the price of housing is steep and I would prefer a 2 bedroom in good shape on a nice lot instead of a larger place that needs work. Any feedback would be appreciated.

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Comments (11)

pamghatten
17 years ago
I think you answered your own question :>). If there "are quite a few of them" in your market, and it fits your needs, go for it.

You should look at sales of 2 bedrooms in your market to gauge their re-salability. But it sounds like this is not out of the norm for your market, so re-sale shouldn't be an issue.
jasper_60103
17 years ago
Makes sense, especially for wanting a yard for a dog and gardening. If 2BR w/basements are available in your area, that would give you room for growth too.
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jlhug
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How many 2 bedroom homes are on the market in relation to the total number of homes on the market? How many of the homes (I mean total homes, not just for sale homes) are 2 bedroom homes? If the percent of 2 bedroom homes for sale in the market is significantly greater than the percent of 2 bedroom homes in existance, then, I would (and possibly do so in error) draw the conclusion that 2 bedroom homes are harder to sell than 3 or 4 bedroom homes.

I would also look at average days on the market for 2 bedroom homes vs. 3 bedroom homes.

Good luck.
cordovamom
17 years ago
2 bedroom homes are fine for some people, my mom retired to a two bedroom ranch when she got rid of the 5 bedroom 2 story we were raised in. She loves it. If you're just starting out and it's basically all you can afford and you plan on staying there for more than 5 years or so, I say it's better than renting a 2 bedroom apartment. Go for it.
dragonfly_
17 years ago
We have lived in a two bedroom home for 21 years. Our home has two bedrooms because the previous owner opted for 1 of the bedrooms being larger. The rooms would be small as three. The home has the same dimensions as other 3 bedrooms in our area. We had 1 child so it met our needs other than we only have 1 bathroom. That was something I would have wanted more than an extra bedroom.
We will be selling this spring as soon as our new home is built. I will find out then if we will have problems selling. If so, a wall, closet and door will make it 3.
quiltglo
17 years ago
Two bedroom condos are the norm here, so I would take a two bedroom home with a yard over the condo anytime.

Gloria
tangerine_z6
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the tips and a formula (jlhug) to help ascertain the value of 2 bedroom homes. I'm not just starting out, rather, I'm at the other end of the curve looking at retirement in 10 or so years. I've owned a large house and don't need that kind of room or upkeep now. It's just me and the dog!
cordovamom
17 years ago
tangerine -- my mom did that, downsized from a huge house to a two bedroom when she retired. She has a neighborhood with people in like situations, all retirees with little two bedroom ranches, she is so very happy because she could keep her yard and loves gardening. It was shock at first to lose so much space, but she got rid of a lot of junk and now can vacuum her whole house without unplugging the vacuum!!! It's only a 900 square foot house but for her alone, she doesn't need more. Good luck.
feedingfrenzy
17 years ago
Then you should buy a nice two-bedroom house and not worry about its resale value. It sounds like you're going to live there for quite some time and that means you'll save quite a bit in taxes and upkeep, and also the expenses of remodeling a larger house. And, most important of all, it suits your needs.
dreamgarden
17 years ago
I was also thinking with all the baby boomers due to retire, 2 bedroom houses will become more desirable. Especially if they have a basement like jasper_60103 mentioned. More room for guests. Is it or can it be handicap modified?
nutella
17 years ago
I had posted a similar question on the "Small Houses" forum, asking about 2/1s. Lots of good responses. My concern is not about 2 BRs, but about the 1 BA. However I haven't totally ruled out a 2/1 because there are several on the market that are the nicest homes in the neighborhood in my price range.

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