Changes in American Homes (08-25-10)

New homes are fundamentally different from slightly older homes, according to a recent report compiled by Les Christie.  The Census Bureau has announced that in 2009 the median new home had 2,135 square feet, compared to 2,300 earlier in this decade.  The Census has also found that the average owner-occupied home in the US has 6 rooms, which includes 3 bedrooms.  Now, almost 90% of new homes have central air conditioning and 63% of homes are cooled.  Ten years ago, only 52% of owner-occupied homes were air conditioned.  The chief economist at the AIA, Kermit Baker, reports “Consumers don’t ask as much for spaces devoted to single purposes, such as media rooms for watching videos and game rooms for shooting pool.  Instead the requests are for rooms with shared uses.”

Les Christie.  2010.  “The American Home is Shrinking – and Gaining Appliances.”  http://www.finance.yahoo.com.