Houses are Getting Smaller

U.S. Census Bureau data on characteristics of new homes completed in 2009 provide an interesting snapshot of emerging housing preferences and trends.

Plansource offers over 100 catalog home plans under 2400 square feet and all meet the 2009 Florida Building Code.  Visit www.plansonline.com for more information.

Recently released data show that, after increasing almost continuously for three decades, the average size of single-family homes completed in the USA last year was 2,438 square feet — down from 2,519 square feet in 2008 and from a peak of  2,521 square feet in 2007. 

While a similar decline did occur when the economy was in the midst of a recession in the early 1980s, this time is different, says NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “This time the decline is related to phenomena such as an increased share of first-time buyers, a desire to keep energy costs down, smaller amounts of equity in existing homes to roll into the next home, tighter credit standards and less focus on the investment component of buying a home.” Many of these tendencies are likely to persist and continue affecting the new-home market for an extended period, he noted.

In keeping with their slightly smaller size, new single-family homes completed in 2009 had fewer bedrooms than previously. In fact, after increasing for almost 20 years, the proportion of single-family homes with four bedrooms or more topped out at 39% in 2005, but has since declined to 34% as of 2009. Meanwhile, the proportion of single-family homes with three bedrooms increased from 49% to 53% between 2005 and 2009. 

Not surprisingly, new single-family homes completed last year also had fewer bathrooms than previously. The proportion of homes with three or more bathrooms fell to 24% last year from a peak of 28% in 2007 and 2008.

From: Builder Magazine

Plansource Customizes All Home Plans

Since its inception in 1996, Plansource has focused on quality design and service for all of its clients. Because the firm focuses only on residential design, Plansource is able to fully understand the needs of its clients, and the markets they build in.

The principal of Plansource, Randall W. Smith, AIBD, has an extensive background in residential construction and design. He grew up in a homebuilding family, and has since gained experience with two national home builders, and a national residential design firm prior to deciding to meet the challenges of establishing his own design firm.

The work of Plansource is throughout Florida and the South. The work is varied and includes many types of construction techniques and housing types. Mr. Smith’s experience includes single-family houses, multi-family townhouses, condominiums, and amenity buildings for communities.

2008 Plansource Home Plans Catalog

peft-cover2008.pdf

Plansource, Inc has published the seventh edition of its popular catalogue of residential home plans designed for the Florida market. The full color catalogue contains over 180 houses and duplexes ranging from 900 to 7500 square feet, showing many different widths, styles, and configurations.

What is unique about these catalogues is that all plans are designed to the current Florida Building Code and are available as signed and sealed permit sets, as well as unsigned sets for a builder or homeowner to utilize his own engineer. Custom home and duplex designs, CD Roms of the drawing files, presentation artwork, and full customization services of our single family and duplex catalogue plans are but a few of the many services we provide homebuilders.

Since its inception in 1996, Plansource has focused on quality design and service for all of its clients. Because the firm focuses only on residential design, Plansource is able to fully understand the needs of its clients, and the markets they build in.

The principal of Plansource, Randall W. Smith, AIBD, has an extensive background in residential construction and design. He grew up in a homebuilding family, and has since gained experience with two national home builders, and a national residential design firm prior to deciding to meet the challenges of establishing his own design firm.

The work of Plansource is throughout Florida and the South. The work is varied and includes many types of construction techniques and housing types. Mr. Smith’s experience includes single-family houses, multi-family townhouses, condominiums, and amenity buildings for communities.

Contact Plansource at (813)909-2941 to obtain a catalogue, visit our website at www.plansonline.com.