The house we sold had 2800 sq feet (three bedrooms, two and a half baths). Our retirement abode is about 1800 sq ft, three bedrooms, two bathrooms. We got rid of a whole bunch of stuff when we moved and we are still kind of crowded in the newer house. We have a two car garage (but only one car), so we can keep our lawnmower, bikes, etc in the garage. Plus it has elevated storage space for decorations and other stuff we don't need very often. Our old house had seven large closets, large linen cabinet (double sided, full wall sized), large pantry and a storage shed outside. Our new house has three closets, small linen closet, small pantry. I miss my big closets.
You could probably fit all three of my new bedrooms in my old master bedroom. Our three bedrooms in the old house were huge.
We are one level, attached garage, inground pool with screened lanai (heated so we can use it 12 months out of the year) and we are 1.5 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. We do have a few steps up into the house at the front door to meet code requirements for building here in SW Florida. Our front door is about ten feet above sea level.
This winter we wore long pants for one week. Rest of the time is shorts or swimsuits.
We do have hurricane shutters on most windows and doors; remaining doors and windows are hurricane doors/windows. Garage door is hurricane rated.
My laundry room is in the house with a utility sink. Many of the smaller/less expensive houses have laundry set up in the garage. I'm wasn't going to do laundry in the garage during Florida summers.
