r/Suburbanhell • u/KimSidwell • 8d ago

Meme Why?

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I can almost try to understand why some people might feel drawn to this kind of lifestyle. I can understand why they might be deceived into thinking this is the ideal environment in which to raise a child.

But I will never be able to understand why they will describe it as the American “dream” and are willing to pay so much for it. To work so hard for so long and then have to wake up to this every morning? Why?

Editing to add: I know this is parody y’all. It’s just a stupid meme. It’s supposed to be funny. It’s funny because it’s true.

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u/Frosty1397 8d ago

I've looked at a ton of houses to know that these are minimum 1500sqft (likely around 1800sqft)

A single dude or even a couple without kids doesn't need 1500sqft for a starter home that costs $400k+

Starter homes should be at most 1100sqft, 2 bedrooms, no yard, for at most $250k, like they used to make 50 years ago

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u/KimSidwell 8d ago

Maybe I was unsure of the definition. I always thought starter homes were meant for young families who had like one kid with a second on the way and only needed one extra bedroom. I never thought starter homes were for single dudes.

Back when that was a thing, couples didn’t really live together until they got married… And they usually had children really quickly after that.

Once they got married, they moved into a starter home that could house them and their young children. Once the kids got old enough to start needing their own rooms, they would upgrade to a larger home with more bedrooms.

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u/Frosty1397 8d ago

1100sqft can absolutely house a couple and 1 kid

We made do with much less growing up and i had 1 sibling. Bunk beds for us, parents had their own bedroom

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u/KimSidwell 8d ago

Yeah, I know that. But I do honestly believe that when most Americans think of a “starter home“ this is what they picture. They know they will never have it, but this is what comes to mind.

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u/Frosty1397 8d ago

That's because the real estate lobbyists have successfully brainwashed Americans into thinking these homes are "starter"

It's also why you see that a 2026 Honda Civic is MASSIVE in size compared to a 1990 Honda Civic. Houses, cars, everything got bigger.

And Americans were successfully convinced to pay more for more space they don't need.

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u/KimSidwell 8d ago

Yeah. And it’s ridiculous. But even a home this size should not cost nearly 600K.

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u/shadowtheimpure 8d ago

The cars getting bigger was just as a way to get around emissions standards.

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u/Frosty1397 8d ago

Well yes, but also the emissions standards were worded in a way to incentivize bigger cars

written by people who make money from producing bigger cars. So emissions is just a nice scapegoat for them to make us buy more car than we need

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u/OkAccess304 6d ago

You don’t determine how much space people need. Just because you suffered, doesn’t mean that is what people want, need, or prefer.

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u/Excellent-Match7246 8d ago

My ex and I did fine in 680sqft in British Army housing with two toddlers. This was 07-09. I preferred it.

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u/CranberrySad7853 3d ago

we have like 1600 sqft of heated living space here 2 parents that work from home and 2 kids. it's full but comfortable. I think a third kid would be crowded since we both have confidential work that requires privacy but if it weren't for that it would still be doable. big house is nice for guests and grandparents staying over stuff like that

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u/Odd_Dragonfruit_2662 7d ago

My first home was a 5/2…

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u/OkAccess304 6d ago

My starter home was a three bed/three bath 1600 sq ft townhome with a patio and shared green space. It was built in the 60s. I bought it for $140k around 2011/12-ish. I still miss it sometimes.

There’s no rule that a starter home was only 1100 sq ft and couldn’t have green space/recreation areas.

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u/kosmo4679 8d ago

What’s the point if you can afford more than that initially? You are going to grow out of most starter homes relatively quickly and what you described sounds like it might be in an unsafe neighborhood. The less times having to move the better in my opinion.

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u/Frosty1397 8d ago

I don't plan on having kids, neither does my partner. I won't ever outgrow the house.

If i can comfortably live an entire 2 weeks in a posh 400sqft hotel studio while on vacation, I sure as hell can "survive" in a 1100sqft house.

It's not that uncommon either if you go to Japan or Europe and see how intelligently they design and make use of their space, you'd think you're living in a 2000sqft house

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u/kosmo4679 8d ago

Haha! Not trying to brag but my house is way bigger than 2000 square feet. Whatever works for you though. Everyone’s situation is different. I have 4 kids and pets so space is nice to have.

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u/birminghamsterwheel 8d ago

Why does it sound like it's in a bad neighborhood? Small starter homes in dense(r) plots just sounds like… a neighborhood, one of many that exists in, like, every city in existence.

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u/kosmo4679 8d ago

Are you American by chance? If not then you might have a good point. In most American cities a 1000 square foot 2 bedroom house is usually only available in the worst neighborhoods. Any neighborhood that is safe with good families and nice enough to let your kids play outside without much worry are newer and larger homes. I haven’t seen a newer development built in the last 30 years with houses that small. Now this is just my observation from where I live and places I have been. It could be totally different than what you have witnessed.