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Thread: ABS Releases more useless Stats
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7th August 2007, 05:15 PM #1
ABS Releases more useless Stats
From the SMH:
On the day when a Reserve Bank meeting is expected to raise interest rates, new statistics reveal thousands are paying off loans on houses that are too big for them.
The ABS found that between 1994 and 2004, the average number people per household dropped from 2.7 to 2.5, but the average number of bedrooms had risen from 2.9 to 3.
In 2003-04, 77 per cent of households had one or more spare bedrooms and nearly all (97 per cent) of couple-only households had one or more spare bedrooms. At least 85 per cent of solo dwellers also had empty bedrooms in their homes.
Don't any of these people have family or friends that live interstate/overseas who come to visit? Don't they have friends who like to come over for a few drinks and stay the night? Don't they have old computers/toys/boxes of junk to store?
I mean, if you took any notice of these pointy heads, where would the childless couple who don't want to live in an apartment block find a house with one bedroom? What about the young couple buying into the housing market and planning a family in a few year's time - are they supposed to live in a flat until the first baby comes along?
It's the weakest excuse for a story I've heard today!"I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."
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7th August 2007, 05:24 PM #2The ABS found that between 1994 and 2004, the average number people per household dropped from 2.7 to 2.5, but the average number of bedrooms had risen from 2.9 to 3.Visit my website at www.myFineWoodWork.com
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7th August 2007, 05:28 PM #3
Same here. Same with both my neighbours.
There must be some single rich dude living in a mansion here somewhere to make up the difference."I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."
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7th August 2007, 05:28 PM #4
I'm not so sure... It seems to me that people want to buy bigger and better houses than their parents ever had, and yet they have smaller families, more, and newer, cars. Little wonder they are worried by interest rate rises.
I recall a story on 4 Corners about housing and McMansions. One comment was that first home buyers want to start where their parents finished (in terms of quality and size of housing).
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7th August 2007, 05:34 PM #5
Houses are bigger, no doubt. That's probably a valid observation. Bigger rooms, more family space - rumpus room, study, separate dining, home theatres etc.
I came from a family of 5 and we always lived in 3 or 4 bedroom houses. Families of that size are less common now, and most people I know have 1 or 2 kids, not 3 or 4. But I remember when we lived in a 2 bedroom house with one kid. It was an absolute pain when grandparents came to stay. Suitcases in the hall, mattresses on the lounge room floor. Hated it.
I suppose I'm not arguing that the houses are bigger, it's the 'too big for them' that I disagree with. Adding a spare bedroom to the cost of building a house is bugger all as a percentage, compared to what it costs to put in an ensuite.
I also wonder what they expect us to do with all the three bedroom houses now that we only have 2.5 people per house. Get in a boarder I suppose."I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."
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7th August 2007, 05:37 PM #6
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7th August 2007, 05:44 PM #7
Cars, same thing.
Why do people buy a newer car or a second car while struggling to pay off the mortgage is beyond me. Why?Visit my website at www.myFineWoodWork.com
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7th August 2007, 05:45 PM #8
Yes but the houses that a lot of Sydney-siders are buying were built in the 50's. The house is the same house that their grandparents bought - it's just that the price of real estate is so high. It's not because they have too many bedrooms.
If you're talking about McMansions, a house and land package is nothing like what it would cost for a 50 year old 3 bedroom house in Mosman and they get 4 or 5 beds, rumpus, double garage etc. etc. It cost me about $650 to build two houses, one 3 bed one 4 including the 1.1 Ha block they're built on. You would be lucky to buy a block of land for that in Sydney."I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."
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7th August 2007, 06:26 PM #9
It is not just the size of the house that pushes up the prices of today's housing, but all the extras. When we started we had a basic 3 bedroom 12 square house. No carpets, no paving/concreting, no dishwasher and the list goes on. All that was built up over the years.
Now this generation, as someone else observed, wants to start where their parents finished, or preferably bigger and better. At the same time they want the holidays overseas, 2 new cars, a 42" plasma screen with all the other bits. All this goes on the mortgage!
Then when mortgage rates go up, it is all the governments fault that they are in the sh*t.
To those people I say, grow up and do the hard yards like our generation did.
(Spoken like a true old phart!)
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7th August 2007, 06:37 PM #10
I usually have two spare bedrooms. My two littlest kids always end up in bed with us.
Mick
avantguardian
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7th August 2007, 06:55 PM #11
Something I know something about! I'm right, the following is TRUE.
Houses ARE bigger, about twice the area on average.
They ARE infinitely more complex, with wiring, bathrooms and even built-in kitchens now!
They ARE burdened by redtape, with the cost of compliance with bushfire, structural codes, and climatic requirements pushing up the base price, to say nothing of the cost of the beaurocracy that administers them.
Land costs are artificially inflated by the extreme headworks charges and holding costs while developers battle with layer apon layer of red tape. The Qld government has recently recognised this, and is apparently going to release some land which will enable a direct approval process. They are responding to the red tape problem by establishing a new government department!
So, get back to basics. Stop buying stuff that needs space to keep it. Build small and simple, and you could EASILY knock 30% of the cost of housing. (another 20% too if you ignore manufacturer's instructions BTW! )
I've a feeling I'll say more on this one!
Cheers,
P (2 people, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 "studies", 2 car garage, 2 sheds, 1 television)
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7th August 2007, 08:22 PM #12
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7th August 2007, 08:31 PM #13
Only one, but it's got a twin outlet!
P (no ducting though!)
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7th August 2007, 08:45 PM #14SENIOR MEMBER
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7th August 2007, 08:52 PM #15
I lived in 0.9 of a room once, boy was I glad when the others moved out......
"We must never become callous. When we experience the conflicts ever more deeply we are living in truth. The quiet conscience is an invention of the devil." - Albert Schweizer
My blog. http://theupanddownblog.blogspot.com
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