Experts say more builders are building smaller homes to meet demand for cheaper ownership options.
"For the third year in a row, new homes are shrinking," reports Steve Brown.
Brown is sharing data from the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), along with insight from Rose Quint, a researcher at NAHB who recently presented on the data at the building industry's annual conference in Las Vegas.
According to Quint, homes are getting smaller to help more people afford the cost of buying and owning a home.
"Homes have been downsizing in the past three years," Quint said at the event. "This paints a picture of homebuilders trying to respond to the housing affordability crisis we have in the country."
Still, American homes had room to spare. Preliminary data measures out the average size of a new home 2,576 square feet, down from a peak of 2,700 square feet in 2015.
FULL STORY: Builders are shrinking U.S. homes to keep a lid on costs
In the Midst of a Housing Crisis, Soaring Costs Leave San Francisco Projects at a Standstill
San Francisco desperately needs more housing, but many projects sit unfinished as developers face cost challenges.
The Housing Crisis: No Longer Just a Coastal Concern
The pandemic accelerated existing trends and created unsustainable housing demand in a wider range of towns and cities, exacerbated by outdated zoning restrictions.
Colorado Workers Squeezed by Housing Crisis
In Colorado’s booming resort towns, even sleeping in your car has become an unaffordable luxury.
The Surprising Oil Tax in the Inflation Reduction Act
President Biden has made reducing gas prices paramount in his administration, so it was likely a surprise to hear a Republican senator last Sunday warn TV viewers that a revived and increased oil fee in the climate bill will increase their gas costs.
The Tide Has Turned Against Open Streets
Once a promising development for advocates pushing for a less car-centric future in cities, the open streets movement has ceded significant ground to cars since the height of the pandemic.
San Antonio Office Tower To Become Residential
With the building more than half vacant, the new owners of the Tower Life Building plan to convert the historic tower into residences that could include affordable housing.
Department of the Interior Forced to Intervene on the Colorado River
More questions than answers on the Colorado River this week as the federal government failed to deliver on threats to force Southwest states to cut back on water use.
Explaining Rent Inflation
The delayed effects of changes in rent costs make rent inflation a difficult figure to pin down.
Dallas Names 66-Mile Bike and Walking Trail
When complete, the newly named DFW Discovery Trail will incorporate 50 miles of existing trails into a regional ‘super highway.’
San Francisco County Transportation Authority
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Cohousing Association of the US
City of Crystal River
Sun City Center Community Association, Inc
City of Mesa
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
