That huge 4000+ square-foot listing you just took may be the biggest home in the subdivision, but that evidently does not guarantee hits or showing these days. Actually, the trend seems to be the opposite. Smaller is better. Bigger means higher maintenance costs, higher utilities and more.  

It’s the smaller listing that's becoming a bigger draw to buyers these days, say industry experts who spoke today at the Sustainable Development & Restoration Summit here.

Writer Melissa Dittmann Tracey with Speaking of Real Estate noted that the average home has grown from 983 square feet in 1950 to 2,349 square feet today. The most common criticism of these homes includes “lack character, good design, and energy efficiency”.

Not to mention, it seems that 60 percent of households only have 1 or 2 people living in them. Why have all that extra space when you don’t really need it?

Recent news reports show that the new trend is for buyers to be seeking smaller homes. Builders are starting to reflect this in their floorplans. KB Homes has decreased its home sizes from 3,400 square feet, selling for $450,000, to 2,400 square feet, selling for $300,000. Now, they’re doing it again – 1,230 square feet for about $200,000 – in trying to attract more buyers