| When I decided to write an article in
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| | you might be able to afford to let one
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| defense of the small house, it was hard
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| | parent quit working full-time to stay
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| to know where to start, because there are
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| | home with the kids. When you add the
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| so many reasons why I think small is
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| | daycare costs you won't be paying, the
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| beautiful when it comes to houses. I
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| | smaller mortgage, and the money you save
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| freely admit that I love living in small
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| | on the daily commute, you could find that
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| houses - in fact, my ideal abode would
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| | you come out even - and your kids won't
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| fit many people's idea of a tiny house.
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| | be raised by strangers.
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| My previous home in Portland was only 420
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| | Aside from the initial affordability of a
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| square feet, and for me, a single woman,
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| | smaller home, you also save money each
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| it was perfect. My current home, which is
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| | month when you receive your utility bill.
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| huge by comparison but still under 900
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| | Smaller houses are more efficient when it
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| square feet, seems too big to me.
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| | comes to heating and cooling them than
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| Now that you know my personal prejudices
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| | larger ones, even when the smaller homes
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| towards smaller homes, I'll give you a
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| | have less insulation and older windows.
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| few reasons for my unusual preferences.
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| | The idea of a "green" McMansion is an
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| First, smaller homes are more affordable
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| | oxymoron - you cannot create a small
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| for the average American worker. I just
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| | environmental footprint if you build a
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| did a quick search through the real
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| | huge house.
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| estate listings for the Portland Oregon
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| | The average cost to heat and cool a home
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| metropolitan area for all homes for sale
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| | with electricity in the same real estate
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| under $120,000. I chose that price range
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| | market discussed above is approximately
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| because the average annual wage in that
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| | 58 cents a square foot, per year. My tiny
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| area is around $37,000 a year. Since home
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| | 420 square foot house cost an average of
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| prices have risen much faster than wages,
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| | $20.30 a month to keep it comfortable all
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| a single buyer in the Portland area could
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| | year. That affordable 748 square foot
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| only afford a 30-year mortgage under
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| | home that is currently listed for
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| $100,000 at current interest rates, but
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| | $119,000 will cost approximately $36.00 a
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| the median price for a home in the area
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| | month to heat and cool. On the other
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| went up to $297,000 in May 2007. Yes, by
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| | hand, an 1800 square foot house, which
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| my calculations, the average worker can
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| | some people consider "small," will have
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| afford 1/3 of the average house in
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| | an average monthly heating and cooling
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| Portland. But that doesn't mean that you
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| | bill of $87.00. The utility bill can
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| have to do without a house altogether, as
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| | actually be high enough to make the home
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| many people assume. You aren't doomed to
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| | unaffordable even for a family with two
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| rent forever, if you're willing to look
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| | working adults, when you add this cost to
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| at a smaller home.
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| | the monthly mortgage.
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| Admittedly, you may still need to haggle
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| | But money isn't everything in life, so
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| a bit to get the price down to a level
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| | let's look at a few other reasons why I
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| you can afford, and you may need to do
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| | think small is beautiful when it comes to
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| some repairs once you move in, but if
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| | houses. First, small houses are easy to
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| owning your own home is important enough,
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| | decorate, and even to remodel, if you get
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| you can do it, even in high-priced areas.
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| | the whim to make some changes. They're
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| The least expensive house in the Portland
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| | easy to sell, because there are far more
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| real estate market on the day I write
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| | people who can afford a small house than
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| this is a 748 square feet two bedroom, 1
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| | a large one (my tiny house was on the
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| bath home listed at $119,000. The seller
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| | market for less than a week before I
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| notes that it needs some work, but it has
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| | accepted a full-price offer). They take
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| a new roof, new vinyl flooring, and new
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| | up much less space on the lot, which
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| washer and dryer that come with the
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| | means a lot to a gardener like me. And if
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| house. This may not fit your idea of a
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| | the house is small enough, and the city
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| dream home, but putting money towards
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| | is encouraging contractors to build on
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| something you own is a lot more
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| | flag lots, you may be able to divide your
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| satisfying than spending money on rent,
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| | lot and make enough money from the sale
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| even if you have to put up with less
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| | to pay off the mortgage on your house.
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| personal space and even (gasp!) share a
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| | If you're thinking about buying a house,
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| bathroom with your spouse.
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| | consider looking at the small ones now
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| Even if you have two wage earners in the
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| | available in your real estate market. You
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| family, buying a smaller house could
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| | might find one that fits your lifestyle,
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| still make sense, especially if you have
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| | your budget, and your long-term financial
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| a child or two. By reducing the available
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| | goals.
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| personal space for each family member,
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