Smaller Homes Are the New Trend

The days of the oversized home seems to be over.  Smaller homes are the new trend.  With the economic downturn that the country has been experiencing over the last few years, especially in the housing market, many people are trying to find ways to save money. 

The National Association of Home Builders conducted a survey to see what housing trends are on the horizon.  They found that today's Anchorage home buyer is looking for a smaller, "greener" home to occupy.  Their study concluded that, by 2015, homes will be approximately 10% smaller on average with more technology than today's homes. 

Smaller Alaska homes are less expensive to heat, cool and maintain than their larger counterparts.  Since more than half of the nation's households contain only one or two inhabitants, a downsized home can still have plenty of space. 

Other changes the NAHB study found were that the traditional living room seems to be over.  In future building, it will either be merged with the kitchen (like many family rooms are today) or will be a much smaller parlor area that would function more as a study or retreat than a large family gathering area.  "Extras", like a fourth bedroom, third bathroom, media room, second master suite or that third car garage are on their way out in new Alaska home construction as well.  Green is in with energy efficient appliances, "low-E" windows (using glass coated with a thin film to keep your Anchorage home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter), engineered building materials and more water efficient features.

If you're interested in purchasing a smaller home in the Anchorage area, let me know.  I'll help you see why smaller homes are the new trend, especially here in Alaska.

Pauline Hofseth, your Anchorage real estate specialist