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At nearly 2,100 square feet, the size of a typical new U.S. single-family home is much larger than it was 30 years ago. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), by 2010, the typical new home will be even more spacious — 2,200 or more square feet. At the same time, average lot size ten years from now will be 1,000 square feet smaller.

During the last three decades, features such as central air conditioning and two-or-more-car garages have become commonplace. Today more than 50 percent of homes have more than two bathrooms, up from 15 percent 30 years ago.

In a recent report, "The Next Decade for Housing," NAHB projects the trend toward larger homes will continue at least until members of the echo baby boom begin to account for a substantial share of new home demand. That will occur late in this decade.

In 2000, about 36 percent of new homes had four or more bedrooms. About one-fourth had that many in the late 1980s, even though the average household size declined from 3.1 in 1970 to 2.6 in 1990 and has since stabilized.

Few homeowners actually use four bedrooms regularly for sleeping. Some are guest rooms, but many are used for home offices, studies or hobby rooms. Rooms are being specifically designed with features that make them adaptable to alternative purposes.

But some traditional features of the American home are becoming less popular. In years past, a fireplace was considered a critical factor in turning a "house" into a "home." The number of fireplaces, however, peaked at 64 percent in 1978 and has been declining since. An increasing number of homebuyers say they prefer not to have a fireplace.

The living room likewise has fallen out of favor. A NAHB study last year found that more than a third of prospective homebuyers are willing to buy a home without a living room to have more space elsewhere. Dining rooms, on the other hand, are making a comeback. Nearly four-fifths of respondents rated dining rooms as desirable or essential in a new home.

Today’s home buyer has a strong preference for higher ceilings. Two-thirds of home buyers say they want ceilings at least nine feet high on the first floor. Many builders have responded, but another NAHB study found that only a third of new homes have ceilings that high.

Nationwide, about one in six new homes has a garage for three or more cars. They are more common in Texas and western states. NAHB found that about one-fourth of would-be homebuyers wanted garages capable of holding three or more vehicles despite the additional cost. The demand for space, however, was more for storage than for cars.

Ten years from now, more new homes will be equipped with energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, high-speed data access and more flexible interior designs. More new homes will come with security systems, multiple telephone lines, energy management and lighting control systems.

Of course, future home buyers will pay for all the new gadgetry. By 2010, the average sales price of a new home is projected to be in the $270,000 to $280,000 range compared with $200,000 today. In case you forgot or are too young to know, the 1950 average was $11,000.

Community facilities are another emerging trend. This has necessitated the creation of community associations to maintain and operate the facilities. Nearly 32 percent of owners living in homes built since 1997 are members of a community association.

Today’s home owners are attracted to new communities with parks, walking and jogging trails, lakes, playgrounds and outdoor swimming pools. A substantial number say they want to live in a gated community.

Jones is director of communication and senior editor for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. His e-mail address is djones@recenter.tamu.edu.

By David Jones

New Homes Changing with Times