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The Future of Housing - 7 Trends to Watch Next Year

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Tri County

Realtor.org recently posted an interesting article on 7 Trends that will Drive the Future of Housing for 2011.  (Source - Hanley-Wood ProSalesOnline.com)

"1. Big builders are wringing the extras out of construction costs and dropping the national average cost-to-build 36% to $52 per square foot.
2. Starting in 2011, Energy Star will ramp up its efficient design and quality installation standards. To get Energy Star certification, builders will have to install the right insulation, HVAC systems, and other features related to energy efficiency correctly every time.
3. Sheds are the next evolution. As homes get smaller, a separate shed will become a popular home addition.
4. There are 81 million "Echo Boomers" who were born from 1981 to 1999, compared to just 78 million Baby Boomers born from 1946 to 1964. These children and grandchildren of Boomers will drive home-building for years.
5. By 2015, demographers say, more than two out of every five households occupied by Generation Y people born between 1981 and 1999 will be WINKs (women with incomes and no kids).
6. Make room for the "Sandwich Generation" - Baby Boomers living with both their kids and their parents. These families like having two master suites, a second cooking area, and lots of storage.
7. Baby Boomers want to keep working and continue to live where they have always lived. They want a first-floor master bedroom near the washer and dryer and lots of convenient storage."

Some of these trends are already evident in our New Jersey housing market.  Certainly the move toward energy efficiency is solidly underway, and multi-family housing to accommodate the "Sandwich Generation" is already in demand.

Call or email me to discuss the special needs you may have in our Mercer County, NJ, or Central New Jersey, housing markets.

Comments (2)

Ernie Hernandez
RE/MAX - Cedar Park, TX
Central Texas Real Estate, NW Austin, Cedar Park

Thanks for sharing I had not seen this yet.

Nov 27, 2010 01:36 PM
Andres Munar
Keystone Alliance Mortgage - State College, PA
Experience The Difference

Interesting thanks for sharing.

Nov 27, 2010 01:46 PM