

944,471
It depends on price point and where folks are in life. People want to make the best use of their space. Lately I've had many clients say they don't want to super open spaces. The like defined spaces. I also have some who love 90s houses if they're semi-open.
I have a 90s house and the old formal living room is very conducive to be used as an office. Our family room is open to the kitchen but not so open that you feel like you're in the kitchen. We don't use the dining room much but it looks pretty.
So, if I were moving I'd be open to a 90s house if it is set up well. I wouldn't want an open floor plan that has no definition, privacy or character.
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Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Phoenix, AZ
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes &...
Walhalla, SC
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
2,872,471
Acoustics remain a problem for open floor pans as any little noise fills the air & bounces off the walls & ceiling amplified. Formal dining rooms have gone the way of the dinosaur but not the seating areas for dining. Formal living rooms used to be show places but no longer. Family rooms retain the cozy invitation to gather especially if there is a fireplace. If building a cost effective, functional house today, more emphasis on function & use than grandeur if keeping it, If selling it, not so much. I would like to see more backyard with the perks, front porches & shade plus potted landscaping or natural wood chip or rock finishes. Emphasis on more storage areas too
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Richard Alan Naggar
Riverside, CA
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
834,657
I think Michael Jacobs nailed it. As it is totally a personal preference. We have lived in both and prefer the open concept. We have the great room that opens to the kitchen and dining, with a formal dining room which I had as my office now that I'm retired it is our TV room. We have 3300 sq ft. with plenty of room to go if we need to be alone on 2 other levels.
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Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Phoenix, AZ
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes &...
Walhalla, SC
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
1,113,048
I think it depends on where geographically one is. In my area, homes have been open floor plan for a couple of decades. The nooks and crannies of the '90s not quite so popular. Most enjoy informal dining, and have no need for a dining room. Many convert into an office or entertainment/game room.
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Ryan Huggins - Thousan...
Thousand Oaks, CA
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Greg Large
Grove City, OH
6,183,976
There's a lot to consider. We have a dining room and just used it yesterday when some of the family came over. I like an open kitchen/family room because that is where we are most of the time, however, I like an office/study that can be closed off.
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes &...
Walhalla, SC
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
1,278,056
My father's last house had a LR, DR, & Family room. The living room was only used by my mother because the piano was in there. The dining room was only used for special occasions and the "family room" should have been appropriately called the living room because the kitchen and "family room" was where all the living took place. I'll stop there so I don't go into a rant regarding what I call unnecessary rooms...lol.
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Olga Simoncelli
New Fairfield, CT
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
3,447,516
Personal preference and affordability. Dining rooms are not used for dining rooms - in many cases they may become an office.
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes &...
Walhalla, SC
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
2,562,328
We LOVE our floor plan Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate . It's original layout was very traditional but after the flood we got to design our own but using the original bones. Our bedrooms, the kitchen and dinning area are on one floor. We did away with the traditional living room and traditional dinning room on that floor and made 3 comfortable bed rooms and a large bath. The new kitchen and dinning area are an open space with easy access to a large outdoor deck for entertaining. Then much like a split level home out living room is two steps down and divided by a half wall from the kitchen. Our front door opens into this area and the entry area also leads to our lower level. It works perfectly for us.
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes &...
Walhalla, SC
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
4,791,716
"Personal Preference" - what works well for one may not appeal to others.
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes &...
Walhalla, SC
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
1,641,729
I agree with Candice A. Donofrio and have the same experience in San Diego, CA. It comes down to taste, but most (of my buyers) seek what Candice describes. I think families are more spread out than ever before so the traditional need for dining rooms have become extinct.
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes &...
Walhalla, SC
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
1,314,063
I am not sure what you might call it but the trend seems to be larger open floor plans. It does work for me. I love spending time with my family and having them in the same room combination helps communication.
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes &...
Walhalla, SC
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Greg Large
Grove City, OH
5,388,691
I can't speak for others and every client is different. Ideally, my preference is to always have a formal dining room, a formal living room, a great room. I've lived without a formal living room for the past 18 years and know I can do so, but I still miss mine from other houses. I've also learned to live with more open floor plans although prefer more separation in my rooms, especially my kitchen.
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes &...
Walhalla, SC
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
5,558,757
Time has a way of changing preferences. The wife and I have slowly progressed from a traditional floor plan to a semi open floor plan to an open floor plan. We currently have a 3 story townhome. The first floor has a bonus room I have adapted to a "man cave" but it is really a family room. The second floor is very open kitchen, dining and living area and the third floor has bedrooms. We do not lack for privacy but have great open space when the kids come over without any unused space. Not for everyone but a great layout for us.
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes &...
Walhalla, SC
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
6,054,959
Most of my recent buyers love the open floor plan, and have no use for a formal dining room. A few still enjoy the 50's compartmentalized floor plan.
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes &...
Walhalla, SC
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
8,237,256
We rarely use our living room and dining room. I would prefer that space in a great room
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes &...
Walhalla, SC
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
908,516
I think the great room is going away. Builders love it - fewer walls to build and finish. Owners who work from home are looking for walls to protect privacy.
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes &...
Walhalla, SC
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
426,317
We have never used our dining room, it's just sort of storage.
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes &...
Walhalla, SC
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Olga Simoncelli
New Fairfield, CT
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
3,691,310
To me it depends on the needs of the family and how they plan to utilize the rooms. Personally we've always had a family room that can be closed off to the living area (which could be considered an adult area when the kids were living at home) and they could watch TV and play games to their delight! Now it doesn't matter as it's just the 3 of us at home now and #3 is Norman!!
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
6,766,565
I suspect that most prefer to tear down the walls and have an open concept.
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Gwen Fowler SC Lakes &...
Walhalla, SC
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
3,048,846
I never did like the open floor plan. The stagers and builders make them look so perfect. Yet when I had to sell them, the occupants of many were messy if they didn't use a stager. Renters, in particular, were the worst. And when I'd go to preview the properties, many beautiful homes from the outside looked like a used furniture warehouse with no organization inside.
Dining Rooms - From clients I've had, only one that I could remember wanted a dining room but that was only because the buyer inherited her mother's dining room furniture, and it turned out to be more like a museum room that nobody ever used.
I see dining rooms turned into exercise rooms, playrooms, a second office, and for home schooling. The home schoolers always made the dining rooms look functional.
In sum: Those who want an open floor space have a more challenging time to keep it clean, neat, and organized. As for dining rooms, most don't want a dining room.
Builders build. And buyers buy their models. Custom builders are usually too expensive, so buyers settle on open floor plans.
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
796,639
I am a firm believer in having a Living Room, Dining Room and Family Room. It is essential to have the Kitchen open to the Family Room. I know that the Living Rooms don't get used very often but it makes a house a home. It's like a bakcyard. Many people don't use it but not having one makes a home not as much of a home. I know not everyone has these options but in the ideal world we all would have this set up.
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL