Americans like their stuff big. We like to super size everything from our food to our homes. But now many developers in America are scaling down on home size to make homes more affordable. Years past have seen homes getting bigger and bigger as the housing market grew hotter and hotter. But now the market is adjusting so costs have gone up and builders are being forced to explore new or different ways to reduce the cost of home building.
One good way to reduce the cost of home building is to reduce the square footage in different areas of the home. Homes that were once being built with 2,200 square feet are now being built with 1.800 square feet, which makes a big difference in price.
You can still find super-sized homes, if your income supports it and your lifestyle demands it, but many others are starting to realize they don't really need the huge bathrooms or the extra space that builders were using as a selling point.
Another thing that's coming to an end in many new communities are the amenities like large clubhouses and elaborate swimming pools. Homebuyers are choosing to forego these extra luxuries to save money in today's economy.
Things are beginning to look up, though. The economy grew 0.9 percent which was better than the 0.6 percent predicted. So, supersizing may not be a thing of the past for long.
When you need help finding the right home with the right square footage for you and your family, contact me, I'm here to lend a hand.
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Liz - It's interesting to track changes in homes over time. Sixty years ago, almost every home was a very basic ranch, with a low, simple roofline, few to no gables, minimum windows, and box-like construction. And families were happy to afford those homes! We've gone through a phase recently where the expectations of nearly every homebuyer includes as large a home as possible, with every imaginable bell and whistle. As the home market slows, fewer of the bells and whistles will be included - and I think you're right, there will start to be a trend towards smaller, more affordable homes.