We have shit houses over here as well. Tons of old square buildings that look like shit, remnants of our pre-oil days.
The standard of most modern houses are much like that house though. Don't see what's that special about it. (Seeing Semmy's post below me the standard over here is higher than that as well) That said, to get the standard houses over here you probably need to be two people though.
The average house life span for a Norwegian goes like this (unless they remain single or fuck up their career): Renting ugly ass apartment > Renting nice apartment/Bought ugly ass apartment > Nice apartment > Ugly ass house > Nice house > Nice house and cabin > Nice house, cabin, house in Spain > Fantastic house, fantastic cabin, fantastic house in Spain.