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The "Home Design Trends Survey" released by the American Institute of Architects found that the collapse of the U.S. housing market has resulted in smaller home and lot sizes, which showed signs of improvement in 2011.
AIA's survey focused on overall home layout and use in the first quarter of 2011. The survey found that the number of respondents who reported decreasing home sizes in 2011 dropped from 60 percent in 2010 to 52 percent in 2011, while 5 percent surveyed in 2011 said home sizes were increasing. Respondents indicating a decline in lot size fell 10 percent from 2010 to 2011, from 32 percent to 22 percent.
“Overall home and lots sizes showing signs of increasing slightly indicates that the housing market is stabilizing after being in a downward spiral since 2007,” said AIA chief economist, Kermit Baker, PhD. “But consistent with the last several years, there remains a preference for open space layout allowing for more flexibility and less interest in formal spaces and rooms.”
According to AIA, the report's results indicate that the pace of decline in home sizes has slowed in the housing market. Residential architects reported similar trends for the volume of homes, as the percentage of respondents reporting declines fell from 21 percent in 2010 to 18 percent in 2011. AIA says it is unlikely that home sizes and volumes will achieve any significant gains until home prices begin to pick up.
Findings from AIA's "Home Design Trends Survey" are available online.