Looking to add onto your house but not sure where to start with limited space and a good interest rate – any suggestions on how to proceed?
Asked by Abigail Hart 
1 month ago
Last Updated: October 21, 2024
We’re thinking about expanding our house because we’re running out of space. Our current size is just under 1700 sq ft, but we’re looking to add on an extra 400-600 sq ft. The idea of moving and starting over with a new house is out of the question since my interest rate is so good.
I was originally thinking of building out the back, but there’s also about 100-200 sq ft available in the front. Any thoughts on which direction to go?
I also included a couple of photos of something cool I found that I think would be a great addition. By the way, we’re outside city limits and there are no building restrictions.
Constructing a complete space above the garage was done at my grandparents’ house, totaling approximately 400 square feet. Another option would be to build a new model that includes adding a whole second floor. This would involve pulling equity out of the home to fund the second story, ultimately increasing the property value.
For better advice from professionals, try sketching a basic floor plan. The pictures don’t clearly show the layout, making it hard to decide where an extra room should go
Check with your current lender to see if they offer mortgage porting. It varies between lenders. Porting a mortgage involves moving your mortgage to a different property. This will maintain the existing loan terms, including interest rate and payment schedule. However, you can’t just transfer your loan to your new home.
It’s very rare,
Yes, , but not entirely 😁
If I were you, I’d consider building up and adding a dormer
We could use some more details. How do you want to modify the interior layout? Are you looking to expand the main living space? Add another bedroom or office? Maybe even a giant reptile room?!
From what I gather, it’s more cost-effective and simpler to develop vertically rather than horizontally…
It really depends on the home, Coles. But overall, yes, in this situation, it might not make much of a difference since it’s a one-story house and adding stairs or making major structural changes would be necessary regardless.
Oh, that totally makes sense, ! I was imagining starting from scratch with the foundation, pipes, and wiring, but I didn’t think about the existing home not being able to support a second floor. It would be wise to expand outward if there’s a need for restructuring.
While located outside city limits, most areas do not permit additions to the front of a property if they exceed 5 feet. This can impact street setbacks and the overall property placement. Make sure to check with the county beforehand to avoid any issues. Adding to the front porch to align with the bump outs is a good option since it does not affect setbacks. However, it might be easier to do so at the back of the house.
As you continue working on the back, consider extending the roofline over the existing porch. Then, construct a new porch that aligns with the wall on the bump out, bringing it flush with the current porch.
If you feel the need, go ahead and build up.
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1. Create a garage loft or cozy lounge area
2. Consider adding a pool house
What are you looking to add? Extra living space? A bigger kitchen? Maybe an office or more bedrooms and bathrooms? The choice of where and how to expand will depend on your specific needs.
For sure, consider expanding upwards! Adding a second floor can double your space.
Got a basement? Is it being used effectively? Basements are a great way to add more space.
Hmm, it really depends on what kind of space you’re looking to expand- like a family room or more bedrooms. I would imagine that dictates which section of the house you should expand. You wouldn’t want to build a family room on the side where the bedrooms are located.
Develop vertically
Place it on top of the garage.