Real Estate Blog - First Floor Master

Home : Blogs : Charlottesville Real Estate - Your Trusted Broker Charles McDonald : Charlottesville Real Estate Blog - Charles McDonald

First Floor Master - Darn it!!!

Builders, Builders, Builders.... What are you thinking?

Our Housing market never really seems to stop building. We may have a single builder get out of the game (see: BUILDER calls it QUITS!). But the demand for housing is and continues to be strong for the Charlottesville Real Estate Market.

First Floor Master

Some of the smart builders and smart developers know this.

We are seeing smaller developments around the city and even have a new development with hundreds of homes in the plan for the southern part of our area (This project is called Biscuit Run).

There is a lot of debate over where and how and why.

However, I want to go on record as saying to builders,

"stop building homes that do not have a First Floor Master!"

The baby boomers are at an average age of around 60 years old. I can tell you from experience that they do not even want to consider homes without a first floor master.

I am talking specifically about our Real Estate market, but I believe this is true in a lot of areas! There are some local builder's putting in 3 story (yes 3 story) homes in town and they are killing themselves by not having a First Floor Master option...

My next home purchase will have a First Floor Master and that is the Trend!!!

This is my opinion and I am stinking sticking to it!!!

When Looking for the perfect home in Charlottesville with a First Floor Master, give me a call, I will be sure you see them all!!!

About The Author

Charles McDonald, Associate Broker at RE/MAX Assured Properties and dedicated Buyers Agent is the author of this blog, and several other sites on the Internet. Charles and his team of experts in the Charlottesville area are always available to help you with your Real Estate needs. Call our team anytime at 434-981-1585 or to search for homes visit: Charlottesville Real Estate

Charles McDonald - BIO

Brought to you by that guy who sells Charlottesville VA Real Estate

Search for Charlottesville Real Estate 22901 or Search for Crozet Real Estate 22932 in one great place!

Posted by Charlottesville Real Estate - Your Trusted Broker Charles McDonald on 09/29/2008 08:05 AM

Comments (28)

New Construction Techniques in the Home Buying Channel

blue ridge builders, charlottesville builders, new construction

Originally posted at: Charlottesville Real Estate: First Floor Master - Darn it!!!

This post has been included in Virginia Information Albemarle County, VA Information Charlottesville, VA Information
Post is included in group: Americas Relocation Home Services - Our Mission is to Connect Home Buyers & Sellers With Local Real Estate Professionals
Post is included in group: CHARLOTTESVILLE REAL ESTATE
Post is included in group: Local Expert
Post is included in group: Localism Success and Accountability Group
Post is included in group: Realtors®

28 Comments on First Floor Master - Darn it!!!

SEP

2008

Charles: And the baby boomers are a BIG chunk of the market at this time! They have the money and the finances to get qualified and purchase. Builders need to get a grip on this! Good post!

Forget first floor masters. Spacious brick ranch style homes would be even more desirable. When baby boomers get old, it's a hassle going up and down stairs to use the rest of the home.

Steve - thanks. I was in several new constructions this weekend and was shocked about this again!

Cathleen - excellent point!!!

I may agree with Cathleen...in many cases *any* stairs are an undesirable. Although I tend to be leery of homes built without basements, even that has been requested by many boomers.

One real head-scratcher I've seen are the first-floor master condos that have storage above the garage...accessed by a pull-down stair. I can't see that last bit as being very useful for seniors...

Ditto! Or at the very least, have 30-50% of the new homes with this feature demand.

Charles,

I totally agree!!! Thanks, Fran

This is my opinion and I am stinking to it!!!

I assume you meant "sticking"? Spellcheck can only go so far. :-)

ALAN - LOL!!!

GOOD CATCH!!!

This is my opinion and I am stinking sticking to it!!!

I've sold real estate in both California and Connecticut. On the west coast, first floor master bedrooms are fairly common in new construction. It's expected. Here on the east coast, not so much. The trend hasn't made it out here yet, even though the demand is there. In the newer developments that do feature a main floor master, they are priced so high as to eliminate most of their market - the first floor master is still seen as a feature only for the high-end market.

Building ranch-style homes would make sense, but in many parts of the country (read: Connecticut) ranches are still not the desirable style of home. Colonials rule, and builders need to consider colonials with first floor suites.

Yes, this is something I agree with you absolutely!

No problem... I'm a spell-a-holic... I used to be a typesetter in a former life, and sometimes those typos just jump out at me... (although oddly enough I'm really bad at spotting them in my own blogs!!).

Where I am located, First floor masters are very common--(over 55 active adults.)

Another good point/post Charles. Here in Austin the homes the builders are doing of single story are in high demand, the all bedrooms up are a tough sale, I see that simple numbers of the BOOMERS being the largest generation should be a hint to the builders. The largest population of our Country are boomers. HELLO builders.. wake up!!

Charles, In Anne Arundel County, MD, most of the new construction is 55+ because of school overcrowding. It's pretty shocking to see that not all builders of 55+ homes are putting in a first floor master, but it happens.

We are seeing a lot of elevator condos and elevator townhouses. It's even easier on REALTORS® knees when we show them :)

Aging Boomers, older family members living with their children. First floor master bedrooms and ranch homes make more sense today.

Exactly! Odd how builders are always one step behind the buyer desire.

I believe homes with a 1st floor master or more so the ranch style homes are more expensive to build because they take up more width area and hence you need a wider lot. A builder told me that it is cheaper to buil a 2story versus building a ranch or 1st floor master home.

I've seen a trend in our area, five years or more, developers were building numerous colonials and townhouses as land values escalated. Smaller lots with large colonials are now sitting on the market. I'm sure your area is a desired retirement location so what you are saying just makes sense.

Charles... my sister-in-law lives in Charlottesville.... in fact she just bought a house, and is rehabbing it to live in. (Well, actually she lives in Esmont, but the new house is in Charlottesville..... her store is in Charlottesville, though... and she's moving to be closer to work... the commute is a long one.)

Sounds like a good plan Charles.

Just out of curiosity do you see the latest news concerning the financial world and bailouts affecting your market significantly.

We have seen the trend several years ago when we asked our MLS to give the option of "does it have a main floor master" to search by I use it all the time buyers want it.

Trey - not so much. 2 closing tomorrow and wrote a contract this weekend...

Charles, It seems as if first floor masters are becoming popular in this area... Good point and good post...

SEP

2008

We don't have basements here - but many of our floorplans do include at least a "guest" bedroom on the first floor.

I think the first floor master is really an improtant concept that the public needs to embrace out here Charles. Good post.

Hi Charles, main level Master Bedrooms are very important in my market!

Charles: I completely agree with you on your first floor master suite. I'm starting to see more Zero Step Foundation's being added to alot of homes here in Wisconsin. Target Marketing would show that the majority of new homes right now are like you said baby boomers.

OCT

2008

Charles - You are indeed right on the money with this one! Builders that do not have a first floor masters are shooting themselves in the foot! We Boomers INSIST upon having that option!

This blog does not allow anonymous comments