- Mar
- 15
Home Building Trends: Smarter and Smaller
Posted on March 15, 2011 by — No Comments
As home building begins the slow climb out of its deep recession, two trends are emerging: smaller and smarter new homes. Be they attached or detached, for sale or for rent, the overall square footage of new homes is decreasing. Data collected by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) records a year-over-year decline in the size of single-family homes.
Many home buyers may still prefer larger homes, but the reality of today’s market is that the nation’s best-selling, new-home communities are riding the wave of offering smaller homes at more attainable prices. And while the cost to acquire a home drives the trend toward smaller properties, the cost to maintain a home also factors into the buying decision. Of course, this latter cost extends beyond the monthly mortgage. What are the implications of these changes for building industry marketers?
For openers, space is being configured differently in today’s smaller homes. The fundamentals of this new approach include:
• fewer rooms, yet larger living spaces;
• less separation between areas; thus…
• eliminating wasted circulation space; and
• boosting storage-space opportunities.
For example, the kitchen, great room and dining areas flow seamlessly into one another. Gone are duplicative spaces like the formal living and dining areas.
Part two of the smarter equation is in the energy profile of today’s new homes. Buyers expect — and builders deliver — high-efficiency homes. In a lot of different ways and with a lot of different labels (Green, Energy Star, LEED), today’s new homes cost less to heat and cool, and they consume less water and energy on a day-to-day basis. This money-in-my-pocket reality appeals to buyers and separates new-home offerings from resales.
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