I came across an interesting article about the size of American homes last week and wanted to share it with you. I know that the Greater Vancouver housing market can’t be compared with the American housing market in general but there are some very interesting things to be noted from the recent National Association of Homebuilders survey.
They estimate that by 2015 new single family homes will be 10% smaller. The “new smaller home” in 2015 will have several smart new features such as programmable thermostats, energy-efficient electricity, and water-efficient features, low-emissivity windows and engineered wood beams.
Click here to see the infographic with all the details.
The article suggests that people are getting anxious over downsizing but I think it is a worthy tradeoff to have a more efficient home that meets all your needs than a larger home that is less energy efficient with wasted space.
The comments to this article are interesting to read …
One reader speculates that right now most Americans are looking for more affordable smaller homes and that home builders are catering to this market, and not so much that Americans truly want smaller homes. Another reader says Americans’ reactions to the housing and economic collapse has caused them to re-evaluate their goals, priorities and budgets when it comes to choosing a home to live in.
What do you think? Would you rather live in a smarter, smaller home or does having a large home important to you and your lifestyle?
