Are We Seeing the End of the McMansion Era?

The current recession has had no end of side effects. Now a study from the American Institute of Architects finds another one - the era when giant McMansions dominated the face of North America appears to have come to an end.

The Home Design Trends Survey  polled architects to find out what their clients are interested in building. It determined that buyers are interested in smaller, more energy-efficient homes than in years past. Large entry foyers with high ceilings appear to be out. What is in are enhancements to existing homes that increase living space from the existing footprint without impacting energy consumption.  Indoor/Outdoor areas such as patios and outdoor kitchens, finished basements and attics, and other types of improvements are popular.

“The era of the ‘McMansion’ could well be over as home sizes have been trending downward recently, with a significantly higher number of architects reporting demand for smaller homes this year,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. “And as the housing boom has passed there seems to be a renewed interest in investing in properties to make homes more livable, as opposed to real estate that can be resold quickly for a profit.”

For further reference:

AIA Home Design Trends Survey

The Easier Way to Add an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)

Have you thought about building an addition to your home for one or more of your parents? With them conveniently at hand you could keep an eye on their condition and help with their care. Meanwhile you and possibly your children would get to enjoy more of their company.

While their are many advantages to these apartments, they come with some challenges. For one; they take time,money, and effort to design and build. For another, they tend to be tightly regulated by local zoning officials. Mike Kephart, founder of Sidekick Homes, has a better idea for these buildings,   a new solution that can help you get the benefits without the hassles.
Often called mother-in-law apartments, granny flats, carriage houses, pool houses, party pavilions, caregiver cottages, casitas - these are all names for an affordable housing choice some communities are making possible for their citizens. Accessory Dwelling Units, or (ADUs) is the term used to encompass these various local and regional names. ADUs are small independent homes placed in the backyard of a larger home. They provide room for an expanding family, an aging parent or parents, or a young married couple needing help in their first years together. Or, an ADU can just be a fun complement to an existing home as a guest suite or office. Some cities also allow ADUs to be rented providing additional monthly income for a family.

Sidekick Homes’ solution to ADU’s is to provide high quality, pre-designed buildings that are easy and relatively inexpensive to build - and that meet local regulations for these types of buildings.   Their beautiful homes are sustainable, accessible and safe to use for older Americans. Sidekick Homes does not do the building or send you a kit. Instead, they work with quality local builders to provide them with well-designed plans that result in practical buildings constructed at a reasonable price.

Mike has been kind enough to provide Topretirements with a primer on regulations concering ADU’s. His recap can be found, along with more photos and descriptions of his very cool product in action, in our Tips & Picks section. Check it out!  And be sure to tell us what you think in the Comments section at the bottom of this post. Would you, for example, be interested in one of these accessory buildings for yourself?

For further reference:

Sidekick Homes and ADU’s

Kephartliving.com

What are the “Must Have” Features in Your Retirement House

Most baby boomers are currently in a “hold” mode. For them, waiting out the economic storm means postponing their retirement or second home purchase. To help you while away the time, we’ve come up with an armchair/dinner table exercise - what are the “must-have” features you (and your S.O.) must have in your new retirement home?

By this time most of us have at owned at least a couple of homes. We know what we liked, weren’t that crazy about, and absolutely couldn’t get along without. But meanwhile our lifestyles have changed. The kids have grown up, a warmer climate might be in the offing, and visits from grandchildren are either here or on the horizon. Lastly, the market is forever changing, adding new features that no one ever dreamed of tempting us with before.

Builder Magazine recently came out with a list of its top 10 new home features, and it is a very interesting list. Obviously their list is slanted to help builders sell homes with the features they think you and I will like. Topretirements took the liberty of adding and substituting some of our own favorites, making it a top 15 list.

1. Radiant-heated bathroom floors. No longer are water-filled pipes required under your kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom floors - pre-made mats make installation much simpler and less expensive than the last time you might have considered them.
2. On-demand water heater. The Rheem Pronto is a good example of an on-demand heater that mounts in the wall and helps you avoid wasting energy for hot water stored in pipes and tanks.
3. Glass tiles. Now available in colors, they let the light in and brighten up your home.
4. Dual flush toilets. Can save 6000 gallons a water per year for a family of 4.
5. Low-flow showerheads. Use just 1 gallon per minute vs.3.5 for standard showerheads. Yet performance feels the same.
6. Water re-circulator. If you don’t upgrade to an on-demand heater, a re-circulator gives you instant hot water - no more jumping jacks while you wait for the hot water to arrive through your cold pipes.
7. Folding patio-door. Lets you easily open up an entire wall(s) to your deck or patio - instantly.
8. Central vacuum. One of our favorites. Stop lugging a heavy vacuum around, just plug the head and hose into convenient wall outlets. Doesn’t cost much more than a deluxe vacuum cleaner if installed in a new home.
9. Excellent insulation. One of the invisible upgrades worth checking out. Check the spec from your builder to make sure your ceilings are well-insulated.
10. First floor master bedroom. This is a no-brainer, yet we are astonished at how many homes built for the 55+ set have 2nd floor bedrooms.
11. Built-in Trash/Recycling stations. A built-in big kitchen drawer with multiple compartments for trash and recycling makes your kitchen more attractive and simplifies collection.
12. Solar hot water heating. Much more efficient and cheaper in most climates than photovoltaic systems. Payback in 6-8 years if new Obama proposals are approved.
13. Small wind turbine. New, quieter systems like those from Swift can save money if installed properly in a location with good wind potential. Use this wind potential calculator to evaluate your address.
14. Large, open shower. A shower that isn’t claustrophobic and opens or is windowed to a private garden makes bathtime a lot more of a pleasure.
15. Second sink in kitchen. Makes entertaining a lot easier.

See Also: Top 10 Trends in Active Adult Communities for 2009

What’s on your list? Please use the “Leave a Comment” box below to share your ideas on what “must” be in your new home.