Small Homes, Big Value

Not all home buyers are looking for a house with a massive floor plan and a massive price tag. In fact, a wide variety of lifestyle changes are motivating many home owners to downsize to something more manageable. Furthermore, many first-time buyers are seeking something other than the traditional “starter” home. Their reasons may vary, but their goals remain consistent: find a home that fits well, maximizes space, and offers value. Home builders recognize the home-efficiency needs of today’s buyers. For this reason an increasing number of them are finding innovative ways to deliver big value in a small(er) package.

The Appeal of Small Homes

Those who think buying a smaller home plan means sacrificing quality amenities might not know about “jewel box home.” Ranging between 650-2,500 square feet, jewel box homes are generally smaller than the average single-family home.  Builders use high-quality materials and custom finishes tailored to the owner’s preferences.

Such homes are most appealing to newlyweds, single professionals, and retirees – anyone with a less-is-more mentality who wants to live in a custom, yet relatively affordable home. Every area within a jewel box home is designed with a purpose, augment efficiency. The designs typically rely on blurring the lines between the indoors and outdoors and incorporate large sliding glass doors that open seamlessly to exterior areas.

Interior Design

Other design elements include the use of bright, chrome-brushed finishes, pocket and barn doors, dramatic lighting, floating shelves, abundant windows and continuous flooring throughout. Functionality is often enhanced with kitchen islands that double as dining tables, creative storage spaces beneath stairs and purposeful cabinetry and built-ins.

Yet still, for some, “small” isn’t small enough. A few years ago, many thought the “tiny house movement” was a passing trend. Some extreme minimalist home buyers still view tiny homes as a viable option because of their small impact on the environment and on their checkbooks. Costing a fraction of the price of a typical single-family home, these diminutive dwellings are also a fraction of the size.  These small homes often range between 100 and 400 square feet. Those who tend to be the most interested in tiny houses are millennials (between the ages of 25 and 34), particularly the ones who dislike home maintenance almost as much as they do the idea of a long-term mortgage.

For most, the appeal of a simplified life in a tiny house won’t be enough to forfeit their personal space.  The home-buyer intrigue in the “tiny” concept continues to spur micro-living-inspired efficiencies within larger, more mainstream home designs. For more information about innovative home designs that fit modern lifestyles, contact the National Association of Home Builders.