The Future of New Home Design

There are a few magazines that I subscribe to and only one or two that I take with me everywhere hoping to catch time to read the latest articles. One of those magazines is BUILDER. BUILDER is the trade mag for the NAHB, published by Hanley Wood, and is almost always over 200 pages deep so there are top notch articles to discover in each issue.

In the January 2009 issue there is an article titled “Nine on Design” and what BUILDER did was ask nine leading architects where they saw the future of home design headed and what trends will stay and what trends are on their way out the door.

There were many fascinating predictions of what could be but the most practical tips and ideas are what really grabbed my attention. First, the architects foresee the end of exurban living as home buyers gravitate towards smaller, more affordable homes that are within close proximity to cities and work.

Taking that train of thought one step further, new home buyers are expected to seek mixed-use communities that mash up retail, office space and residential living into one neighborhood so that all conveniences like grocery stores are within walking distance.

Next up, the architects see home buyers being drawn to new home communities that put emphasis on maintaining the neighborhood’s natural landscaping and terrain. This isn’t as much of a prediction as it is a reality with home builders already differentiating their communities by foregoing clubhouses and other structures in favor of walking/biking trails and community gardens.

Lastly, the move towards more efficient, low maintenance living is in full swing as a recent survey by the AIA (American Institute of Architects) indicates a 16% uptick in demand for tankless water heaters in 2008 and requests for increased insulation up 12%.

Have you noticed any of these new design trends happening in your neighborhood? And, if you’re an agent, are your buyers seeking homes closer to the city or are they still open to longer commutes in exchange for more spacious digs?

Joshua Ferris is an associate real estate broker in Orange County NY and specializes in both Monroe New York and Newburgh New York real estate. Be sure to visit Josh’s Monroe New York real estate guide and Orange County NY Real Estate website.