(ARA) - If you're looking to purchase or remodel a home, you likely are building a long list of "must-haves," "must-dos" and "must-includes" for your new space. There's no question the housing market is in a different place than it was as recently as five years ago. Of course, a tough economy has been the prevailing factor, but other things - an aging population and a tough job market - are influencing how people are living today and possibly into the future. If you're like most home seekers and remodelers, you may find that your requirements fall in line with these five growing trends:
Bigger isn't always better: As interest grows in living more efficiently, people are building smaller homes. In fact, new homes are now 7 percent smaller than they were the previous year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Just my style: Homeowners are aiming to make their home fit their personal visions of the best investment on the dollar, and 20 percent of new homes are currently custom-built, according to the American Institute of Architects. This trend to customize is in part made possible by the parallel trend to build a smaller home. Smaller spaces free up dollars to put toward the products that fill it. Color, decor and products that help make a home feel one-of-a-kind versus one-of-many are becoming king.
