Many Americans like the idea of big, open spaces. So it might not be surprising that houses built in the United States are among the largest worldwide. The size of the average American house is more than 100 percent bigger than it was in the 1950s. In 2019, the National Association of Homebuilders reported that the average size of a new single-family home was 240 square meters. Information from that organization suggests that the size of new homes has gone down a little over the past five years. But over the long term, the average size has generally risen. Louis Hyman is an economic historian and assistant professor at Cornell University in New York State. He says Americans’ strong feelings about their homes may be tied, in part, to the country’s past. “The appeal of the house for Americans, going back into the 20th century, was that it signified autonomy,” Hyman said. He added that home ownership has been a sign of independence.
Title: Why American Houses Keep Getting Bigger
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/C.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Why American Houses Keep Getting Bigger' data-article-id='4979'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='5833'>Many Americans like the idea of big, open spaces.</span> <span data-start-time='5833' data-end-time='16958'> So it might not be surprising that houses built in the United States are among the largest worldwide.</span> <span data-start-time='16958' data-end-time='28313'>The size of the average American house is more than 100 percent bigger than it was in the 1950s. </span> <span data-start-time='28313' data-end-time='45188'>In 2019, the National Association of Homebuilders reported that the average size of a new single-family home was 240 square meters.</span> <span data-start-time='45188' data-end-time='58479'>Information from that organization suggests that the size of new homes has gone down a little over the past five years. </span> <span data-start-time='58479' data-end-time='66146'>But over the long term, the average size has generally risen.</span> <span data-start-time='66146' data-end-time='78854'>Louis Hyman is an economic historian and assistant professor at Cornell University in New York State. </span> <span data-start-time='78854' data-end-time='91188'>He says Americans’ strong feelings about their homes may be tied, in part, to the country’s past.</span> <span data-start-time='91188' data-end-time='104958'>“The appeal of the house for Americans, going back into the 20th century, was that it signified autonomy,” Hyman said.</span> <span data-start-time='104958' data-end-time='113354'>He added that home ownership has been a sign of independence.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/C.jpg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=15709 data-hint-location='91188' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/what_does_autonomy_mean.wav'>What does autonomy mean?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='independence and self-determination'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/to_be_burdened.wav'><span>to be burdened</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/independence_and_selfdetermination.wav'><span>independence and self-determination</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/captivity.wav'><span>captivity</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/relaxation.wav'><span>relaxation</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=15710 data-hint-location='5833' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/what_country_is_known_for_having_large_homes.wav'>What country is known for having large homes?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='The United States'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/italy.wav'><span>Italy</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/china.wav'><span>China</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/the_united_states.wav'><span>The United States</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/pakistan.wav'><span>Pakistan</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=15711 data-hint-location='104958' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/for_those_in_the_united_states_home_ownership_has_been_a_sign_of__blank_.wav'>For those in the United States, home ownership has been a sign of <span class='blank'>independence</span>.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='independence'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/poverty.wav'><span>poverty</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/independence.wav'><span>independence</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/conflict.wav'><span>conflict</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/difficulty.wav'><span>difficulty</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
Sound Name: https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/4448/C.wav
Preview
