My daughter and her husband were searching for their first home this summer. As many families do, they brought the family along to the first showing. As many of you know, my husband can fix just about anything, so he came ready to “inspect” the property. Afterward, we asked what he thought. He gave the classic dad response; he wasn’t convinced the house was worth the asking price.
For parents, it’s hard to wrap our heads around today’s housing prices and the monthly payments that come with them. Even though housing prices have risen, they’re still below the rise in wages, unlike the costs of healthcare, childcare, and food.
In the 1950s, a typical home in Anoka County had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and about 1,600 finished square feet. In 2025, that same style of home sells for roughly $193 per square foot. By comparison, newly built homes in Anoka County today average four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and about 2,450 finished square feet, with a price closer to $212 per square foot. While the cost per square foot isn’t dramatically higher for new construction, the overall price climbs because the homes themselves are significantly larger.
That difference in size helps explain why home prices feel so much higher today. Buyers now have more styles and sizes to choose from than previous generations ever did. But with those choices comes a tradeoff; buyers must decide whether they prioritize price or size.