A Time for Change
Bank failures, stock market crashes and government bailouts have changed the landscape of real estate transactions. What we are seeing is a trend toward less house with the same level of craftsmanship as the larger homes usually convey, says Jimmy Franks, local builder and developer of Tennessee Valley Homes. With the changing values of the real estate market it will make it even harder for real estate agents to sell homes, says Mary Lane Everett, managing broker of Battle Ground Realty. “Staging a home is ever more important as is realistic goals in this current housing market,” says Everett. “Find your homes most unique feature and play it up. That and decluttering makes a huge difference in the appeal of your home in today’s market. When buying do your research and know what area best suits your lifestyle and your families needs. In real estate it is still about location, location, location.”
Research supports what most realtors already know — that most buyers start their home searches on the internet, and one reason Battle Ground Realty has completely redesigned their website. “Visual websites with complete home information and virtual tours are very relevant especially to out-of-state buyers,” says Everett. “Homeowners buying or selling will have to take a realistic view of what is possible, and realize it may take longer to sell their property or find the right home. But there are a lot of interesting possibilities out there now. In a way, it is a very exciting time for change,” says Everett.
Good Design, Durable Products, & Craftmanship
A constant topic at the National Association of Home Builders is what homebuyers are looking for in their environment. NAHB, in association with Better Homes & Gardens magazine, compiled an annual survey of homeowner trends and here is an excerpt of what they report. Homeowners don’t care as much about granite counters and stainless steel appliances as much as efficient and maintenance-free living. Easy to clean areas and surfaces are more important than style. Also, flexible spaces are becoming more important to expanding and changing family dynamics, and an aging population who requires more universal design. Healthy and green homes are taking root across America with more homeowners wanting green options to choose from: choice being the key. “People don’t want assembly line houses,” Joan McCloskey, editor of Better Homes & Gardens, reports. Interior colors are leaning toward earth tones and McCloskey predicts bronze and copper appliances will be a future trend. Home offices and smart home technology continue to be in demand and reflects the fact that many Americans work from home. Uncluttered restful master bedrooms and large informal dining rooms that are open to the kitchen are also a continuing trend demonstrate a change in American living habits. Formal dining areas are becoming more negotiable when it comes to redefining living space and how much space is really needed. One of the biggest trends is a smaller home with high end finishes when possible. Home buying trends are driven by three major factors: home buyer lifestyles, homes that are on the market and evolving technologies in the marketplace, says NAHB economist Gopal Ahluwalia. The percentage of home buying couples with children has dropped significantly over the past 20 years, resulting in a greater number of empty nesters with different needs for amenities and locations. Smart home technology will be in greater demand, as will houses nearby the workplace and cultural amenities. What homebuyers really want is something totally different from everybody else, McCloskey said. Better Homes & Gardens readers want to live in a neighborhood with a mix of home styles and prices, not one in which all homes look and cost the same, says the magazine editor. What sells is no surprise. Good design, durable products and good craftsmanship are key aspects to homeowner satisfaction.
