Saturday’s Real Estate section in the Washington Post mulls over the premise of “The Not-So-Big House,” a ten-year-old book written by architect Sarah Susanka. Now that developers are eschewing mcmansions—-and even knocking them down in some places—-for smaller homes, the book seems even more relevant than it did in the late 1990s. The Post’s article breaks down why “The Not-So-Big House” trumps the stereotypical, colossal, Exurban home:

• Bigger monthly mortgage payments
• More money for flood insurance
• Bigger energy bills
• More money to furnish, clean and maintain the space
• More walls to wallpaper or paint
• More trim to touch up
• More bathrooms to clean
• More bathroom tile to grout
• More light bulbs to replace
• More yardwork
• Higher housekeeping costs
• Higher cost of living because of surrounding stores.

And finally…and this I consider a stretch: “Think about the holidays: If you live in a fancier neighborhood, you might feel pressured to do more elaborate holiday decorations.”