Size DOES Matter - In New Homes!

When it comes to new homes, size really does matter. The "growing trend shows houses have increased in square footage" according to a new article by Tom Kelly Inman News . For the full story click here. Here are some capsule highlights of the 2015 home, according to a new NAHB study:

• Homes will not shrink in total size. Today's average homes of 2,400 square feet are expected to be in the 2,300-2,500 square-foot range in 2015.
• Ceiling heights, which have been rising in the past 10 years, are expected to be 9 to 10 feet on the first floor while upscale homes will have a standard ceiling of at least 10 feet (10- to 12-foot range) on the first floor and a 9-foot standard ceiling on the second floor.
• Front doors will be single and wider. Standard homes will have at least one light above the door while upscale homes will have lights on each side of the door plus one above it.
• The living room will disappear and change function in homes of less than 3,000 square feet and will be replaced by a den, parlor, retreat, library or music room. Living rooms will remain in homes larger than 3,000 square feet.
• Stairs, which often are in the front of the home, will move to the middle or rear of the house.
• The master bedroom will have two walk-in closets and have areas of specific use (sleep, dress, sit, work).
• The master bath will have larger shower stalls, a compartmentalized toilet, and linen closet. Mid-to-upscale homes will have a shower and tub and multiple showerheads.
• Upscale homes will continue to have whirlpool tubs even though they are rarely used.
• Yards will shrink. Now averaging 9,000 square feet, the American yard is expected to decline to 7,000 or 8,000 square feet in the next few years.