[rsynnott]

None of this, except arguably the durability thing, really impacts the size, though, only the price (and a lot of those big houses are quite cheap). As a European (Irish; average new build is about 90sqm), what puzzles me is what’s attractive about the size, especially when you get to 3000sqft and over. It just seems like a lot of space that most families would have little use for, which needs maintenance (and presumably costs a fortune to heat and cool).

[davidgh]

The cost of utilities in the US are relatively cheap - especially compared to many places in Europe. The cost of electricity in Ireland, for example, is more than triple what I pay in my state [1].

This also applies to gasoline / petrol. Much cheaper in the USA which makes living father from work less of an issue, which means cheaper and bigger lots are a viable option for living. Big, inexpensive parcels of land allow for bigger homes.

When people are incentivized by the government to spend money in housing and when the cost of building materials used are relatively cheap, and the cost of living in a home is modest, I suppose the proliferation of larger homes is not surprising.

1. http://dailycaller.com/2016/05/01/these-maps-show-just-how-m...