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It's hard to call most of the newer homes being built in Tahoe "cabins."
"They have just gotten bigger and bigger," said Sherry Guzzi of Tahoe City, who has been working as an architect in the region for more than 20 years. "In the early 80s it was 2,000 to 3,000 square feet. Then it snuck up to 4,000 square feet and now everyone needs a 5,000-square-foot home."
Dale Smith, of Smith Design Group, said he has also noticed a trend in the increasing size of homes around the lake.
Smith said the trend is visible in neighborhoods like Incline's Mill Creek.
"If you were to drive through Mill Creek the 30-year-old homes are cabins that are probably 1,600 square feet. Homes that are 20 years old are 2,500 to 3,200 square feet. The five newest homes are 5,000 to 6,000 square feet because property prices can support that now," Smith said.
Smith attributes the trend in larger homes to the increased property values at the lake.
"Most clients want to maximize the sale price for their investment," Smith said of the motivation owners have to build larger homes.
"It is unfortunate that real estate is appraised for square footage rather than being evaluated on design."
Elise Fett, who has been practicing residential architecture and remodeling on the North Shore for 12 years, said she has always noticed that people try to build to the maximum limit that their property allows.
"I think that everyone wants to get the most out of their property," Fett said. "To me it is a psychological issue. I almost feel that if people did not have limitations they would be less likely to be pushing to be so big."
While most of Fett's clients are interested in expanding or building big, occasionally she has clients that are looking for something smaller.
"I have actually had two clients who have said, 'I don't want the big house anymore, I am simplifying my life,' " she said.
Fett and Smith both agreed that at some point the market stops rewarding excess footage.
"If you build a smaller house that has a better design it can sell much faster," Fett said.
"They have just gotten bigger and bigger," said Sherry Guzzi of Tahoe City, who has been working as an architect in the region for more than 20 years. "In the early 80s it was 2,000 to 3,000 square feet. Then it snuck up to 4,000 square feet and now everyone needs a 5,000-square-foot home."
Dale Smith, of Smith Design Group, said he has also noticed a trend in the increasing size of homes around the lake.
Smith said the trend is visible in neighborhoods like Incline's Mill Creek.
"If you were to drive through Mill Creek the 30-year-old homes are cabins that are probably 1,600 square feet. Homes that are 20 years old are 2,500 to 3,200 square feet. The five newest homes are 5,000 to 6,000 square feet because property prices can support that now," Smith said.
Smith attributes the trend in larger homes to the increased property values at the lake.
"Most clients want to maximize the sale price for their investment," Smith said of the motivation owners have to build larger homes.
"It is unfortunate that real estate is appraised for square footage rather than being evaluated on design."
Elise Fett, who has been practicing residential architecture and remodeling on the North Shore for 12 years, said she has always noticed that people try to build to the maximum limit that their property allows.
"I think that everyone wants to get the most out of their property," Fett said. "To me it is a psychological issue. I almost feel that if people did not have limitations they would be less likely to be pushing to be so big."
While most of Fett's clients are interested in expanding or building big, occasionally she has clients that are looking for something smaller.
"I have actually had two clients who have said, 'I don't want the big house anymore, I am simplifying my life,' " she said.
Fett and Smith both agreed that at some point the market stops rewarding excess footage.
"If you build a smaller house that has a better design it can sell much faster," Fett said.
