To ask all Americans here

[OftenHangry]

What's up with the houses in US???
Is it real or is it just in movies? I tried to google some pictures and it looks real.

How come houses have 2 giant living rooms, gigantic kitchen, probs even a dining room, yet when couple has an argument it's "Slee on a sofa" thing. Considering the size of downstairs, there should be enough space upstair to house even an extended family, yet one always sleeps on a sofa...
Applues to ginormous flats too btw. Can't believe a flat which has living area bigger than my upstairs and downstairs would have 1 bedroom😳.

It's been bugging me for years...

Our first home in the US was only 900 sqft ( in 1986). Two (double in UK) bedrooms, one bathroom and an open plan living/dining room with a kitchen around the corner (open to the dining end) and a utility room off the kitchen, the Double garage was bigger than the house nearly.
Last house was 1400sqft. Three beds (one master with en suite) kids bathroom, open plan living/dining/kitchen and an oversized double garage 21 feet deep with a utility area in the corner.
Not all houses are massive, we had friends with houses over 2 or 3,000 sqft, it was just more to clean, I was busy enough. The weather was mild in winter so nobody was squeesed in and we spilled out onto a covered deck if everyone was home. We raised three kids in that house and sold it 2013 to move back to UK

I wouldn't say all US tv is aspirational. Plenty of gritty stuff or realistic stuff too. There are plenty of shows which show real US houses though - Everybody Loves Raymond; the old Roseanne; lots of the sitcoms actually. Even shows like Law and Order SVU showing cops in small houses out on long island or in the bronx.

What I notice about Americans is that they all know to the square foot how big their property is. The real estate agents talk in measurements, as do their buyers. It seems to be an important selling feature.

I know the measurements of the individual rooms in my house (more or less), but overall, not a clue.

The American TV house that makes the least sense is Lorelei Gilmore's

See also the Cohens' house in The OC. Vast, in a gated community, proper McMansion, Kirsten is a property developer herself… but there's only space for Ryan in the poolhouse

My brother and his family live in an apartment in a gated community in Tampa. I was amazing that each of the three bedrooms have its own large closet which you could actually fit another single bed in if you needed to. The storage space in a fairly small apartment is fantastic.
Then my SIL opened another secret cupboard next to the open plan kitchen and showed me that it contained her washer and dryer. Wow!

Everyone knows the square footage of the houses as the prices are usually an average of $x per sqft in each area. If you are building it's the same, you get quoted per sqft.

Troels In the UK there are a lot of other factors that affect value, such as area, period or new property, school catchment area etc etc, so that the square footage value could vary wildly. Is the same true in the US?

I think your property taxes may be based on square footage too (that said I couldn't tell you ours)

"Is the same true in the US?*

Yes, square footage is just one factor in valuation for tax and other purposes. Type of construction, the size of the lot, age of the house, neighborhood, and probably most important, the school district, all factor into valuation.

Interesting thread. Totally agree that big big houses are typically those that will require a long commute. The price varies so much depending on area, and thus the square footage is the measure. If any work is done - that adds rooms - without permit it typically can't be included at sale. Often the "bonus room"

When we sold our house last year we wanted to be sure what size it was, since there is a big price difference locally whether over or under 2000 Sq Ft. We were perplexed to learn that it was shown as a 2 bed in city records, yet it was obvious there were always three. We had to fight it as it was shown as 2098 when we bought but 2021 when we sold. Guess we wore out the rest of the space 😁

Is the same true in the US?
Yes if it is a well establish nicer neighbourhood it will cost more. School district too.
Dh is surprised here in UK there can be houses worth a half million dotted about in the same development others worth a whole lot less.
Town houses with 3 beds down the street just went for $600,000 and our neighbour just sold for £130 but needs a renovation. spitting distance, same schools, everything. I find it very odd.