March 31, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — In a reversal of the “McMansion” trend of years past, new homes are being built with less square footage — but make up for it with smart design.
This sentiment was mirrored in the 2007-2008 Consumer Preferences Survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in which 58 percent of respondents answered that they would prefer a smaller house with high-end amenities rather than a larger home with fewer amenities.
In 2008, this was reflected in average home sizes that went from 2,629 square feet in the second quarter down to 2,373 square feet in the fourth quarter. Going forward, eighty-eight percent of builders have expressed their plans to build smaller houses than in the past, according to data provided by NAHB’s economics and housing policy group.
This new trend has been attributed to several factors. Baby boomers are becoming empty-nesters and are looking to downsize from the large house they previously needed to accommodate their family. The recent recession has also caused people to tighten their belts and make financial decisions that are reasonable for their economic situations. Home buyers are also becoming more environmentally aware and are looking for ways to leave less of a footprint on the planet.
Some ways in which builders are addressing this challenge are by increasing the ceiling height, installing skylights and adding more windows, and incorporating an open floor plan that makes the home appear larger and more spacious.
It is also important for builders and home buyers to sit down and do a serious evaluation of what features are most important to their lifestyle wants and needs. The builder can then design the floor plan to accommodate these requirements so that the home owner has the space that they need, rather than more space than is necessary.
Whether or not this trend is here to stay will only be determined over time. To find a builder in your area to help you create the home of your dreams no matter what size, contact your local home builders association.
