If you are wondering what new homes will look like over the next few years, modifications will largely be geared toward making them more efficient. To begin with, homes will be smaller, making them less costly to heat and cool. According to the National Association of Homebuilders, single-family homes will measure an average of 2,150 square feet by the year 2015 compared with the current 2,400 square feet and 2,521 square feet in 2007. Living rooms as we know them are likely to disappear in favor of “great rooms,” which combine the family and living rooms with the kitchen. Also expect to see more spacious laundry rooms, master suites with walk-in closets, and ground-floor master baths with walk-in showers.
HINT: Other features expected to catch on with future buyers include screened porches, ceiling fans, eat-in kitchens, and “universal design” elements that appeal to safety-conscious and older buyers.
