The Top Home Building Trends of 2015 (Part 1)

The home building trends of 2015 will be smaller, greener and a whole lot smarter than homes of the past. After home sizes grew for four consecutive years, new single-family homes in 2014 began to drop slightly and experts believe this trend will continue in 2015. The average size was 2,642 square feet in 2014, down from 2,662 square feet the previous year, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Whether you’re building the house of your dreams or simply remodeling, following one of these 11 trends for 2015 will likely add value to your home and in some cases make your place more environmentally friendly.

“In 2015, we expect first-time buyers to come back in the market, and reverse the growing trend,” she added.


What homeowners might lose in term of space, they’re absolutely gaining in modernity: The smart home will come to virtually every room in the house and allow people to control everything from HVAC, locks and security to music and appliances. Thanks to prewired modern infrastructures, the Internet of Things has become omnipresent in the home.

Smaller Homes
For several years, a struggling housing market meant most buyers were older and wealthier and could easily afford larger homes. But since 2014, the average size of single-family homes started to fall in part to appeal to first-time buyers, including millennials.
Keep In Mind: A smaller house means that you may not have enough storage space or the man cave of your dreams. 


Copper’s Resurgence
From sinks to countertops or simply decorative objects, coated copper is making a comeback as the new “it” metal. It can be used on doorknobs, bathroom fixtures and kitchen faucets, creating the perfect industrial chic style popular in recent years. (Think reclaimed wood or Restoration Hardware.) Some of the advantages of copper: It’s 100 percent recyclable and antimicrobial.
Keep In Mind: Copper is easily scratched, prone to dents and can tarnish over time, so take extra care of it in your home.

Induction Cooktops
Popular in Europe for years, induction cooktops have been slow to gain traction in the U.S., mainly due to their hefty price (starting in the mid $1,000 range, compared to less than $300 for some of the cheapest gas cooktops). But this is changing and prices are going down. Consumers are realizing the attraction of induction heat: the fact that it heats up as fast as gas, cools down quicker, and that cooktops are easier to clean than traditional stove tops.
Keep In Mind: Induction cooking only works with pots and pans that have magnetic bottoms such as stainless steel or cast iron.

The Connected Life
It wouldn’t be a smart home without NuHeat’s Signature WiFi-enabled floor heating system. With a 3.5-inch color touchscreen, energy usage monitor, seven-day programming and dual voltage, homeowners get full access to thermostat settings with wireless remote access through a smartphone app or a web browser.
Keep In Mind: There’s always the possibility that hackers could get into your wireless network and gain control of devices in your home – so be sure to use the highest level of encryption possible. -- The Fiscal Times

Interested in new home communities? Please do not hesitate to contact us at Landon Homes, (904)567-3430!