U.S. homeowners are defying the predictions of housing market insiders, who had forecast the permanent disappearance of McMansions from the landscape in the wake of tough economic times. During the recession, Americans scaled down the size of a new home by 6 percent to an average 2,135 square feet. In the last few years, however, residential size has ballooned once again, swelling 8 percent from 2009 to an unprecedented 2,306 square feet last year. Home builders say people who bought during the recession did not want less space — they simply could not afford more. Now that the economy is showing improvement, they are again in a position to pursue larger dwellings. Square footage also is increasing to accommodate multiple generations living under the same roof. | Read More