It's time to rethink the single-family home as the American dream, author says

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81. I gave up single family house living in 2017

when I moved to a downtown high rise apartment. Loved it, until COVID. Now I feel like I'm playing Russian roulette every time I ride the elevator. Closed last Tuesday on a small single family house with a courtyard where I will move a week from Wednesday. I would have moved this coming week but the builder didn't give me enough notice of closing date to be able to schedule movers for the week between Christmas and New Year's during a pandemic! I can't wait to be in my own home again with no common hallways, doors being slammed, or the sound of sirens all day/night and garbage trucks in the street at 4:30 am.

This development has an HOA. I've lived in townhouses with HOA's, but never a single family house development with HOA. I hope it will be ok. I'm looking forward to having a covered porch and my little courtyard with a fountain, outdoor seating, plants, flowers and a place to hang a hummingbird feeder in the spring. My next birthday I'm turning 70. No way would I consider a "retirement" community of apartments or condos.

I will have a 2 car garage, and 1776 sq ft of indoor space, up from my 1029 sq ft apartment. I looked for a year and a half--on and off--for something to buy. I wanted one floor and a nice neighborhood. Most houses are two stories and have more yard than I want. The HOA will take care of the front yard and the courtyard space is up to me. Couldn't find anything I liked that I could afford until I saw these new houses being built. There are six floor plans and all can have bonus suites built on a second floor. I have been astonished to see how many people have done just that. I think my house will end up being one of the smallest in the community of 93 homes.