New NAHB Study Shows Substantial Regional Differences In New Single-Family Home Characterisitics

October 14, 2014

A recent study from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) revealed significant regional differences in new single-family home characteristics, ranging from price, design features, building materials and even financing.  The new findings come from analysis of the 2013 Census Bureau Survey of Construction.

Of the homes built for sale, the most expensive homes are in New England where the median sales price of new single-family homes started in 2013 reached $400,000.  The least expensive homes are in the East South Central and West South Central divisions with median sales price reaching $221,000 and $223,000 respectively.  Regional differences in home size however do not seem to correlate to home prices.  The nation's most expensive homes in New England also ranked as some of the smallest with the median size of 2,240 square feet.

"This recent analysis really illustrates the many different types of homes built throughout the country," said NAHB Chairman Kevin Kelly, a home builder and developer from Wilmington, Delaware.  "It is fascinating to see how newly built homes can vary significantly not only in design features and building materials, but also in terms of lot size, home prices and financing methods used, simply based on where a home is built."

Regional home design differences include variations in siding preferences, the number of floors in a home and the type of foundation used.  Nationally, vinyl is the most common primary siding material, used in close to 31 percent of new single-family homes started in 2013, with brick following at nearly 24 percent.  Regional variations in home siding are significant however, with vinyl dominating in the Northeast and Midwest, brick in the South, and stucco was the top choice for new single-family homes in the West.

When it comes to home foundations, most homes in colder climates such as the Northeast and Midwest have basements, unlike new single-family homes in the South that are more typically built on a slab.  The data also showed that 58 percent of the homes built nationwide last year had two or more stories.  Similarly, most of the homes built in the Northeast are two stories, and more than half of the homes started last year in the West have two or more stories.  The South region varies within division but ranges from 47-65 percent of homes built with two or more stories.  In contrast however, more than half of new homes started in the Midwest have only one story.

Among outdoor features, porches ranked as the most popular feature nationwide.  Patios however dominate the new home building in the West South Central division and are as common in the West.  Despite a decline in popularity nationwide, decks remain a top choice for single-family homes built in New England where 63 percent of new homes are built with the feature.

Source:  National Association of Home Builders