K.M. Minemier & Associates is a certified Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) engaged in full service real estate asset management and marketing.

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Small Home Benefits

January 10, 2018

There are tons of online “how much mortgage can I afford” calculators, but what if instead we analyzed how much mortgage we really need?  The small home trend is growing.  Here are a few benefits of owning a smaller home:

Cost – This should be the biggest perk of buying or building a smaller home.  Less taxes, less to insure, less to heat and cool, lower utility bills. Who created the idea that 28% of our income should go to mortgage?  What about 15% instead? A lower mortgage means less interest paid over the life of your mortgage, which will mean more money to do other things (like traveling or contributing more to retirement)!

Energy efficient – With a smaller footprint, it makes it much easier to upgrade to the top of the line insulation, roofing, and windows, which will help you stay energy efficient and keep those utility bills low.

Easier to clean – Smaller means less space to clean, meaning you’re less likely to have to spend your money on a cleaning service if you already don’t have time to clean.  Less carpet to vacuum, less baseboards to dust, less windows to clean.

Easier to customize – Upgrading, decorating, and customizing are all much easier the less square footage you have. A smaller home doesn’t have to be boring.  It’s much easier to incorporate custom trim, built-ins and heated flooring throughout your house when you have 1300 square feet instead of 4000.  The same goes for exterior elements like landscaping or stonework.  And less materials and less cost mean you may be willing to undertake the project yourself instead of contracting it out.

Decluttering – Living smaller means getting rid of the unnecessary things packed in closets, attics and garages and paring down to the essentials that you actually use.  Less clutter = less time cleaning!

Less temptation to hoard – Having a smaller space will make you think twice before making purchases based on what you ‘want’ and make you think more about whether you ‘need’ that or not.  Less furniture filling up empty spaces, less cabinets to fill, you get the point.  Less money spent on things inside your home means more money in your pocket over time.

Broader market to sell – Smaller usually means affordable, so you will be advertising your home to a broader population, likely leading to a quicker sale.

Freedom – The more stuff you own, the more stuff owns you.  It’s mentally freeing to cast away meaningless and useless possessions in favor of a simple life that allows us time to do what we really want.


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