What Reesha said makes particular sense for the area that Kfergos is talking about. There's not a lot of land left here for building. Houses are expensive compared to many parts of the country. So, when someone wants to move up or out, they usually are faced with the choice of smaller/older in the close in suburbs, which will cost more than newer/larger (land and house) in the area around where Kfergos lives.
I am not defending ugly developments (I saw enough of those in AZ). I live in a very unusual planned community that was built in the sixties, that is essentially in the woods, but not everyone is going to have a garden surrounding their house. I hate gardening. I am happy to spend my money buying local produce at the farms by me, but I am not willing to spend the time.