Compact Homes
I've seen an interesting trend recently: Buyers looking for smaller houses for sale in the Barre and Montpelier area.
First time buyers and people looking to downsize into smaller homes (two bedrooms, or two bedrooms with an office) have always been part of the natural real estate market in Central Vermont, and the demand for these properties tends to be fairly steady.
A great way to get into home ownership is to buy something that's just the right size. Coming from an apartment, two bedrooms and 1400 square feet might seem palatial.
And it can be. As time goes on and life changes, perhaps more space is needed (bedrooms, home office, yard, etc.). Guess what? There's someone else looking for a great way to get into home ownership. See how that works?
But recently I've met buyers who are thinking ahead to their retirements. They're looking for homes that have the option of first floor living, but that don't necessarily require it. For example, there's a full bathroom and a bedroom on the first floor, but also another of each on the second floor.
"Compact homes", as someone has called them, are not for everyone. But the right ones might give pleasant surprises in terms of energy efficiency, maintenance, and cost.