The average family WANTS big houses. When I was a kid we had a very modest 3 bedroom house by todays standards, but a huge yard by the same standards. Today we want gigantic houses with tiny yards. In the 70s people would laugh at the idea of these houses built basically on top of one another, with no front yard and a back yard that you can barbecue in, but not much else.
You want a tiny yard? You can keep it.
I want a big house and a big yard. However, I’m in California where typically you get a small house and a tiny yard.
I have a large house, and a small yard. The yard is big enough for a decent sized pool, a swing set and a large patio. However, my neighbors are toooooo close. Plus there is not grass to speak of in the back yard except where the swing set is.
Unfortunately, in San Jose most houses don’t have large yards, especially if they were built in the last 20 years.