Large homes can be fantastic, especially for growing families. At the same time, smaller, newer homes have benefits too, especially for older homebuyers who are ready to downsize, or first-time homebuyers who are looking for something modern and low maintenance. Here are 10 reasons why you may be happier in a smaller, newer home:

Perhaps one of the first reasons that buyers turn to smaller homes is that these homes are, on average, less expensive to buy than larger homes. A less expensive home typically means a lower down payment, a lower mortgage, and more financial flexibility.

Not only is a smaller home less expensive to buy, but it’s also less expensive to fill with furniture, decor, repair, paint, cool, heat etc. This means that the savings keep on giving, year after year.

Don’t want to spend years of your life on maintenance tasks, like fixing the leaking roof or replacing the floors? With a brand new home, you don’t have to. And besides, if you do want to engage in a renovation or repair project, a smaller home will be more manageable than a larger home.

No one wants to spend their free time cleaning, and with a smaller home, the amount of time that you spend dusting, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming etc can be significantly reduced. Smaller homes are easier to keep clean.

Whether you care about saving on your energy bill each month or want to be environmentally friendly, a smaller home can get you there. Smaller, newer homes are more energy efficient and reduce a homeowner’s carbon footprint.

With a smaller home, there isn’t enough room for all of your clutter. Which means that you’re forced to get rid of those things that you truly no longer need. This can be both physically (you need the space!) and psychologically rewarding.

Smaller homes have fewer rooms so family members are naturally spending more time together. This can help to foster strong familial ties and a sense of togetherness within the home.

When living in a smaller home, it’s difficult to have an overwhelming amount of material possessions, plain and simple. Realizing that your happiness is not derived from material items can lead to a higher quality of life as you turn your attention more toward friends, family and neighbors.

With a smaller and newer home, you’ll likely have more spare time. This is because there will be less maintenance and less pressure to work overtime to pay your high mortgage. This means that you’ll have more time to do the things you really love including hobbies.

Finally, having a smaller home provides you with more financial freedom. Often times people will stretch themselves financially to get into the biggest possible house. When you don’t have to stress about mortgage payments – in addition to life’s other expenses – you’ll have more financial flexibility when it comes to taking a trip, making a purchase, or taking time off from your job.

We know that the one size fits all approach doesn’t work for everyone. But if you’re interested in downsizing or buying a newer, smaller home in the Northwest, we have homes of all shapes and sizes that you’re sure to love. Come see our new homes in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon today. View our gallery of both large and small home plans HERE.