Small Houses Suburb, Real Estate development
Key Points
- Home sizes continue to decrease, reflecting homebuyer preferences.
- Builders adapt by constructing smaller homes and focusing on affordability.
- Homebuyers prioritize personalization and authenticity in home design.
In Washington, DC, February 29, 2025, the average size of new homes witnessed a decline, dropping to 2,411 square feet in 2023, the smallest in 13 years, aligning with homebuyer preferences for less square footage. According to NAHB’s latest study, homebuyers now seek homes around 2,070 square feet, reflecting a shift in preferences compared to two decades ago.
"It’s related to two factors that are linked," said Rose Quint, NAHB assistant vice president of survey research. "First, we’ve seen changes in home buyer preferences. Second, housing affordability has worsened in recent years."
Builders respond to this trend, with 38% indicating they constructed smaller homes in 2023 to boost sales, and 26% planning to build even smaller in 2024. Efforts to enhance housing affordability include reducing home prices, offering sales incentives, and providing more affordable finishes. Median new home prices dropped to $427,400 in 2023, while existing home prices continued to rise to $394,600.
Homebuyers not only reconsider size preferences but also place higher value on personalization and authenticity in home design.
"Our homeowners are looking to personalize their homes," said Donald Ruthroff, AIA, founding principal at Design Story Spaces LLC. "They want it to feel like it was made just for them and be significantly different than their neighbors’ homes."
Popular home features include four outdoor features, two kitchen features, and two related to energy efficiency. Technology features such as security cameras, wired home security systems, and programmable thermostats are also gaining traction.
Moreover, quartz or engineered stone for kitchen countertops, lighting control systems, outdoor fireplaces, and outdoor kitchens have seen significant growth in popularity over the past decade.
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