Demand Grows for Housing That's Smaller and Closer

The demands of the housing market are shifting to smaller homes that are in denser locations and closer to jobs, according to a new survey from the National Association of Realtors.

1 minute read

April 14, 2011, 1:00 PM PDT

By Nate Berg

Writing for The Atlantic, Richard Florida digs through the 2011 Community Preference Survey and finds a shift away from the exurban mega homes of the pre-crash era.

"The ideal home today is located closer to the workplace and mass transportation and in a neighborhood that's denser and mixed use, with amenities and businesses--parks, pharmacies, grocery stores, doctors offices, schools, restaurants--that can be walked to.

But what I find so interesting and sort of counter-intuitive is how this new American dream smacks against the old dichotomy of city and suburb. Americans may be willing to settle for smaller, they may prefer denser development, but they still relish their privacy. They want a detached house with its own walls and a yard."

FULL STORY: The New American Dream: Denser, Smaller, Closer, But Still Private

Wednesday, April 13, 2011 in The Atlantic

Housing Urban Development United States Density Housing Market Home Sizes View More

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