Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Smaller Houses Setting Real Estate Trends All Over The U.S.!

By Gavin J. King

The recent trend toward little homes is a result of the economic recession, but has many benefits to both homeowners and our nation. The American Institute of Architects has reported a 59% change in the number of home builders in the U.S. featuring little houses and those trends are only reflecting the market tendency of buyers preferring little homes.

As everyone's IRAs hit the skids in early 2008, so did the demand for larger homes causing a lot of the chaos still being ironed out in the real estate market. The average size of new home construction plummeted over 9% as home buyers and builders lined up their home needs with their pockets books.

Expenses are often being reduced on these smaller houses by using part from other houses or outbuildings again in their construction. Old barns and homes that are being torn down have supplied many materials that can be used again for the builders who are constructing smaller scale homes.

Given that the smaller scale homes are much cheaper in value and can still have many of the extravagances of larger homes, you can understand why the trends are pointing up for them.

The small houses one California builder makes can be put on a foundation or on wheels. The retail costs for his plans are around one thousand dollars and they are built for the mid thirties. He relates constructing a small home to tailoring a suit. Each plan has the homeowner in mind and is adapted to fit any specific desire or need they may express. Given the limited amount of space, many of the small homes have built-in space saving features and can store as much as larger houses.

Major corporations like Lowe's, the home improvement retailer, vends it's own "Katrina Cottages" designed to counter F.E.M.A.'s toxic trailers.

smaller homes induce an interesting psychological dynamic on the homeowners in which they simply do not tend to want more stuff as their small home already seem full. Most homeowners are deciding to buy the more humble residences over the preferred "McMansions" of the latent past few years.

Do not be fooled into thinking that these smaller scale residences are lacking in luxuries or the modern creature comforts of larger houses. The appliances in the smaller residences do not have to scaled down due to the incorporation of double door refrigerators and claw foot tubs. With economy in mind and luxury featured, these home are drawing a higher degree of green buyers too.

Since the little houses have a lower energy bill and a reduced mortgage payment, it is not hard to tell you why the trends are what they are. homes that have conventional ceiling heights of about 8 feet have a record of reduced energy costs. With fewer square feet in the floor-plan, smaller houses require less energy to either heat or cool them off so you can save on your energy costs in a big way with them.

Finally, have a smaller home built will not only keep your cost of living down, but it can also increase the recreational value of your home. With more room on your lot due to the fact that you home now takes up less space on your lot, you can use your lot to put up solar panels, solar water heaters or grow your own veggies. Maybe you can put that shop in the back you have always dreamed of!

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