It seems as if we all want bigger these days. Many assume that you can only get a large home at a good price by buying small and building on. When we buy starter houses, we say, "In five years, we'll build on another bedroom and bath." Almost everyone does it. But it may actually be better just to buy the square footage you will need and want than to buy a small home with the dream of expanding. There are many factors to consider when looking to add on to your home, including restrictive zoning laws. You may not save enough money by buying small to build large to buy enough headache pills. Building restrictions, living in a house under construction and market conditions are more than enough to give you a migraine for at least 90 days. A lot of people like building and remodeling. There is just something about taking a home you like and making it the home you love. You've put a bit of yourself into the home. Home improvements are great. They boost the value of your home, they boost your net worth and they improve the quality of your life in the home. But you have to be sure that you want to face the hassles and expenses. Many budgets start out small but get as large as your addition in no time at all. One of the first things to look for in buying a smaller home with the hopes of building on is the zoning laws. There are many neighborhoods that have restrictions on "monster homes." There are restrictions on how much square-footage you can build on, based on the lot size and footprint of the existing home. The rules are designed to protect the character of the neighborhood, as well as prevent a mansion from popping up in the middle of a mid-size neighborhood. Even if you don't have zoning laws, think about the resale value of your improvements. You may assume that adding space is always good, but it isn't necessarily. If you expand beyond the size of the surrounding homes, the value of the improvements may not be equal to the amount the work cost you. You won't see your home being appraised for any more than 25%, in general, of the homes around you. It's just the way it works. Plus, there is the stress of dealing with contractors. Have you ever tried living in a house that is being worked on. First, deadlines and estimated finish dates mean nothing to the weather. Second, you will have no privacy. And finally, it just isn't fun. There is a lot of stress, especially if you have to finance the remodel or additions. You will have inspections, appraisals and re-appraisals. And lenders to keep happy at the same time. Look at what you want to accomplish with your money and your time. It may be that buying a house the size you want to start with is better than making do and then adding on. There are financial considerations as well, including closing costs, interest rates, refinancing, the costs of improvements versus existing square footage, and so on. Make sure you do your homework when considering buying a small home to go large. |
