Kaid Benfield looks at recent trends in the housing sector and asks whether America's infatuation with the McMansion is over.
Citing studies from Trulia, the National Association of Home Builders, the census, and the National Association of Realtors, Benfield sees a reversal in the long term trend of increasing American home size.
"After many years of dramatically increasing home size in America - from an average of 983 square feet in the 1950s up to 2300 square feet in the 2000s, despite declining household sizes - the trend appears finally to be going in the other direction."
To provide a little perspective however, Benfield shows that the US has a long way to fall to catch up with most other developed countries.
"A survey and data comparison conducted by the (now-defunct, unfortunately) British Commission on Architecture and the Built Environment found the size of an average new American home built in the 2000s to be approximately twice as large in floor space as one in Spain or France, and nearly three times as large as the average in the UK."
FULL STORY: What's going on with new home sizes - is the madness finally over?
Survey Says: U.S. Homebuyers, Especially Gen Z, Want Walkable Neighborhoods
Generation Z is leading a new push toward walkable communities, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors.
Families With Young Children Left Cities At Higher Rates During Pandemic
New Census data reveal that families with children under five led the migration out of major U.S. cities between 2019 and 2021.
Single-Family Homes Appearing Faster Than Any Year Since 2006
The housing construction market is responding to strong demand with a glut of new single-family homes.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service