One story homes gain in popularity
The percentage of single-family one story homes grew in 2018, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
The NAHB based its finding on analysis of information from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC).
The share of overall new homes with two or more stories fell from 55% in 2017 to 53% in 2018, while the share of new homes with one story grew from 45% to 47%. The growth was largely concentrated in the South region, where the shares of two or more stories homes climbed 9%, 7% and 7% in the South Atlantic, East South Central and West South Central. The West North Central is the only division for which the share of single story homes declined from 2017 to 2018.
A recent NAHB survey revealed that preference of single-story homes rises with age. Survey results showed that 80% of baby boomers prefer one story homes due to aging-in-place concerns, while only 35% of Millennials want single-story homes.
Looking deeper, four of nine geographic divisions – as defined by the NAHB – show a greater share of newly-built two or more stories homes. Among these four divisions, New England had a significantly higher proportion (84%) of two or more stories homes. New home started with two or more stories in the Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic and Pacific were 76%, 56% and 64%.
On the other hand, new homes started in the Midwest and South show a stronger preference of single story homes, except for South Atlantic division in the South. In the Midwest (East North Central and West North Central), 57% of new homes started were one story, while the shares in the East South Central and West South Central were 55% and 60%. The Mountain is the only division with equal share of one and two or more stories new homes started in 2018.
Homes with one story are more common in non-metro areas, while two or more stories homes are common in metro areas, the NAHB said.
However, there was an increase in share of one story homes in both metro and non-metro areas from 2017 to 2018.
The NAHB based its finding on analysis of information from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC).
The share of overall new homes with two or more stories fell from 55% in 2017 to 53% in 2018, while the share of new homes with one story grew from 45% to 47%. The growth was largely concentrated in the South region, where the shares of two or more stories homes climbed 9%, 7% and 7% in the South Atlantic, East South Central and West South Central. The West North Central is the only division for which the share of single story homes declined from 2017 to 2018.
A recent NAHB survey revealed that preference of single-story homes rises with age. Survey results showed that 80% of baby boomers prefer one story homes due to aging-in-place concerns, while only 35% of Millennials want single-story homes.
Looking deeper, four of nine geographic divisions – as defined by the NAHB – show a greater share of newly-built two or more stories homes. Among these four divisions, New England had a significantly higher proportion (84%) of two or more stories homes. New home started with two or more stories in the Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic and Pacific were 76%, 56% and 64%.
On the other hand, new homes started in the Midwest and South show a stronger preference of single story homes, except for South Atlantic division in the South. In the Midwest (East North Central and West North Central), 57% of new homes started were one story, while the shares in the East South Central and West South Central were 55% and 60%. The Mountain is the only division with equal share of one and two or more stories new homes started in 2018.
Homes with one story are more common in non-metro areas, while two or more stories homes are common in metro areas, the NAHB said.
However, there was an increase in share of one story homes in both metro and non-metro areas from 2017 to 2018.