by Sandy Portnoy
Most new single-family homes built in the United States have central air conditioning, at least three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a fireplace, a two-car garage, and about 1,900 square feet of living space, according to U.S. Census Bureau data analyzed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
"Today's home builders put as much space and as many amenities as possible in the homes they are building because that's what buyers want," said NAHB President Randy Smith, a home builder from Walnut Creek, California. "From central air conditioning to two-car garages, new homes are better equipped today than ever before because buyers won't settle for less."
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES
Many of the trends in single-family homes tracked by the Census Bureau remained the same in 1995 or increased or decreased only slightly from 1994. However, measured against the 1980's, for example, the longterm trends in housing are clear--more space, more rooms and more amenities.
Central air conditioning is one characteristic that has continued its steady rise over the decades and has become a standard item in new single-family homes in most areas of the country. In 1995, 80 percent of new homes--more than ever--included central air, up from 79 percent in 1994 and from 70 percent in 1985.
Many of the characteristics found in new homes vary widely by region. For example, just 52 percent of the new homes built in the West last year had central air conditioning, compared to 98 percent in the South.
In 1995, 48 percent of new single-family homes in the U.S. had at least 2+ bathrooms, down one percentage point from 1994 and the same as in 1993. But, 10 years ago, just 29 percent of the new single-family homes had 2+ or more bathrooms; in 1975, that figure was just 20 percent.
The size of new single-family homes built last year dipped slightly and may be maxing out. The median size of new homes fell to 1,920 square feet in 1995 from 1,940 square feet in 1994. Just 10 years ago, new homes were sustantially smaller. In 1985, median size was 1,605 square feet.
"One of the reasons new homes today are so much bigger than 10 years ago is the abundance of move-up buyers in the marketplace. Over the past decade, baby boomers, who are generally older and more affluent, have come to dominate the trade-up market and they want larger homes with more conveniences and amenities," Mr. Smith said. "Plus, first-time buyers also want bigger homes and, in fact, are willing to give up some amenities in exchange for more space."
Last year, as in the past, new homes in the North-east were the largest in the country, at a median of 2,095 square feet; homes were smallest in the West at a median of 1,835 square feet. Twenty-eight percent of new homes built last year had plenty of space--more than 2,400 square feet. This trend has also leveled off and has remained relatively the same since 1990. The number of small homes being built has also steadied. Just 10 percent of new homes last year had less than 1,200 square feet, a figure that has been cut in half since 1985 but has remained virtually unchanged for several years now.
In 1995, median lot size was 9,375 square feet, down from 9,500 square feet in 1994. Median lot size has not changed drastically over the years and was 10,125 square feet in 1976, the first year the number was recorded.
The number of homes built with four or more bedrooms may also have peaked. In 1995, 30 percent of new homes had at least four bedrooms, unchanged from the previous two years. In 1985, 18 percent of new homes had four bedrooms. The percentage of four-bedroom homes varied little regionally.
One amenity that hasn't changed much in the past 10 years is fireplaces. Since 1986, the percentage of new homes with at least one fireplace has bounced between 62 percent and 66 percent; last year, 63 percent of new homes had a fireplace.
The appearance of basements has also changed little. In 1995, 39 percent of new homes had a full or partial basement, unchanged from 1994. But, the presence of basements in homes varies widely from region to region. Just 17 percent of new homes built last year in the South and 21 percent in the West included a basement, compared to 86 percent in the Northeast and 79 percent in the Midwest.
The prevalence of two-car garages has grown significantly since 1985, but little in the last few years. In 1985, 55 percent of new homes included a garage for at least two cars; in 1995, 76 percent of new homes has at least a two-car garage, down from a high of 78 percent in 1994. Two-car garages are most prevalent in the Midwest and West where they were included in 85 percent and 89 percent of the new homes built last year, respectively.