There are several contributing factors to the popularity of small home building projects in America. Environmental concerns, heating and cooling costs, shifting lifestyles, and limited access to credit are some of the main reasons why many people are building smaller homes.
Smaller homes have smaller carbon footprints and therefore require fewer natural resources for cooling, heating, and other day-to-day living requirements. Some prospective homeowners look at the eco-friendliness factor of the equation, while others simply want to save money on cooling and heating. To say that a compact cottage is less expensive to heat and cool than a 3000-sq.-ft. home is a no-brainer.
So many Americans are saddled with huge debts that they are reluctant to take out more credit, and of course, building a large home means needing a larger credit line. In fact, this is one of the major reasons why the size of the average American home decreased when the recession was at its peak between 2008 and 2010.
Growing older is another reason why Americans desire fewer square feet. The annual study called What Home Buyers Really Want, conducted by the National Association of Home Builders, revealed that prospective homeowners under the age of 35 want an average of 2494 sq. ft., as opposed to those aged 55 who want no more than 2065 sq. ft. in their new home building plans.
The good news is that if you’re planning a small home building design, remember that fewer square feet doesn’t have to mean feeling cramped. With an open floor plan layout, you don’t need space-guzzling walls and doorways.