New Home Characteristics
November 15th, 2008
New homes today are larger, far more energy efficient and have more amenities than ever before. The average new single-family home built in 2006 was 2,469 square feet, 45 percent larger than a typical home built in 1976.
The percentage of new homes with 2.5 or more baths in 2006 was 59 percent, compared to just 22 percent in 1976. Thirty-nine percent of new homes built today have at least four bedrooms, compared to just 23 percent for those built in 1976. Today, nearly 90 percent of all new homes have central air conditioning – vs. less than 50 percent in 1976.
More than 80 percent of modern homes have at least a two-car garage, up from 59 percent in 1976. And today’s homes are built for the wireless age, with high-speed data access, modular wiring systems and multiple telephone lines.