Top 8 New Home Trends - How Today's New Home is Changing Most
Top Changes in Today's New Homes
Today's budget-conscious homes are designed to save energy and space
New home buyers and builders have been asked, across the nation, what they want to see built. Here's what Raleigh new home builders are changing, to meet the needs of today's home buyer.
1. 
Energy Efficiency - Raleigh New Home Trends
Energy efficient homes are a top focus, as energy costs continue to rise.
Homebuyers are adding more into building budgets in exchange for substantially lower monthly energy costs.
When homebuyers evaluate new home builders in NC, they're looking for cutting edge technology like Bayer's MaterialScience High Performance Residential Program (which provides a written guarantee of significant savings on heating and cooling costs) and ENERGY STAR programs that offer long-term lower energy costs.
2. Smaller, Better Designed Homes - Raleigh New Home Trends
Many NC new home builders are building better designed smaller homes - 1600 to 2500 sq ft, in place of the recently popular 2500 to 3500 sq ft homes.
Smaller homes are more cost effective to build, reduce monthly housing costs, require less heating and cooling, and reflect an overall trend towards a floor plan that really works, without unnecessary rooms.
3. Great Room Concept - Raleigh New Home Trends
Today's home buyers are more attracted to floor plans with open layouts, which provide more usable space in the areas where people gather.
"Great Room" concept homes are more popular than traditional formal living room/formal dining room plans. Great Rooms usually combine the main living space with the kitchen, while eliminating oversized hallways and excess walls.
4. Lower Ceilings/Fewer Vaults | Raleigh New Home Trends
While 9 foot ceilings remain very popular for first floor areas, there is a lower demand for vaulted or two story ceilings.
Floor plans with two story ceilings in the Family Room are being converted into extra living space, as Raleigh new home builders fill that empty height with a Game Room, Media Room, or Bonus Room on the second floor - without a huge price tag difference.
Two story foyers remain more popular than two story family rooms, but some homes have eliminated all two story areas.
5. Fewer Expensive Options | Raleigh New Home Builders
Homebuyers and home builders are opting out of many of the expensive options they were more likely to choose a couple of years ago, as they concentrate on better value and lower mortgage payments.
Today's homebuyers are more likely to plan ahead for weekend projects in order to keep the overall price tag of their new home down. Common projects include choosing to add landscaping, decks, and additional paint colors later, and opting out of that luxurious double-sided fireplace and wet bar in the master suite.
6. Fewer Formal Dining Rooms | Raleigh New Home Builders
Today's informal eat-on-the-go mentality has contributed to the popularity of eating areas off the kitchen, instead of a separate, formal area.
More former formal dining rooms are being converted to home offices - and if an NC custom home builder knows that's the intention in advance, there are some special adaptations they can build in that make the switch easier.
7. More Elaborate Kitchens | Raleigh New Home Trends
The kitchen has become a central point of the home. In partnership with the elimination of formal dining rooms, kitchens often offer easier places to sit and eat or hang out.
Large islands and seating areas are popular. Countertop space, flow-through capabilities and energy-efficient appliances are a big part of the demand.
Homeowners are looking for good value, rather than the most expensive countertops and flashy options.
But many homeowners are also opting for top-of-the-line equipment, with plans for more meals at home.
8. Three Car Garages | Raleigh New Home Trends
Homebuilders are seeing more requests for new homes with 3 car garages, where the budget allows.
Three car garages are in demand to allow for small workshops, storage, or parking space for a Mother-in-Law or grown child who has moved back home. Even larger garages can be planned cost effectively. For example tandem garages, where one car parks behind another, are gaining in popularity. That extra area is also perfect for a workshop.
Raleigh New Home Trends:
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Finding Your New Home in the Raleigh Area
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Call 919-278-8070 or visit www.StantonHomes.com to find out more about new homes in the Raleigh area today.
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Articles copyright Stanton Homes 2006-2011. Unauthorized use is not permitted. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any statements. Please note: all listing information per MLS, and current as of posting date. Information subject to change. Stanton Homes does not make claims to ownership of any lot listings, but can work with homebuyers to purchase available lots and build. Home plans to be approved on an individual basis, subject to neighborhood restrictive covenants and lot restrictions. Ask for further information regarding any community, lot or floor plan. Photos represent typical homes and details of each neighborhood, to help highlight different options available in the Raleigh/Triangle area. No claim of ownership is made to homes or land pictured.
Thanks for sharing the information. I would love to have a three car garage in my next home.
Good morning Penny.
That is great information...Thank you for sharing...
Good morning Penny; Wow, you got it all. Who could ask for anything more?
Gita - three car garages are great, and for many people well worth the extra 2-5% added to the cost of the home.
Joshua and Kenneth - glad you found this interesting. So many things changing in new homes today! Remember those early 1990s model homes?
Great information Penny!