This is a link to a recent article from Yahoo with the same theme. Yeah, the prices are outrageous!

Here is a link that might be useful: New trends toward cottage living

Have you ever looked at a photograph of a quaint little village in Tuscany or some other european locale where the homes are modest and everything you need is within walking distance? Granted, the parcels are small but they still have courtyard gardens, etc. Why can't we duplicate that approach here more often? When the developers try with their "Planned Communities", they seem to fall short or are extrememly expensive. There must be a secret formula waiting to be rediscovered.

~Scott~

I don't think it's so much a secret formula as it is the fact that those homes in the quaint villages were built at a time when the medieval mindset led people to want to live very close to their neighbors and the cost of building a small home was well within reach for even a modestly successful merchant.

And, people don't usually like to live "that close" to a business, because of the noise, trucks, crowds, etc. City living is definitely different than country/suburban living!

I'm retired and know many in the same position I am who would love the possibility of living within an area like this. It becomes more difficult to manage traffic and get to areas for last minute items. Have never wanted to live in a retirement community. Mainly due to lack of "youth" around and prefer being part of a mixed group of people of all ages, activities. If there was a cottage neighborhood around, I would go for it. Only exception would be HOAs, which I abhor.