By Jeff & Dina Major Co-Principals, Major Development, Inc.
As we roll into a new decade with ever changing housing and financial markets, it’s important to understand current trends to keep up with trends in home sales. The direction in construction is clear. People want smaller “greener” homes. As our society has become more casual, with more people working from home, buyers are looking for bright, open, relaxing and efficient spaces.
The days of ‘McMansions’ are behind us. If you are considering building or remodeling, you may want to focus on an open floor plan with a large and more social kitchen. In addition, a home office/den seems to have replaced a formal dining room in terms of priority. An oversized, pampering, master bathroom remains a popular luxury.
“Green” is the operable word in construction just as it is in most other industries. The city of Santa Fe has adopted the HERS building standards, which currently apply only to new construction, not additions. HERS is an acronym for Housing Energy Rating System. This new standard is designed to promote green building codes within the city limits and it could add time and expense to the building experience; however it will also increase the efficiency of our homes. If you are looking to update a current home to make it more energy efficient, we suggest you consider replacing old windows/doors, adding solar panels, updating to energy efficient appliances and a hot water heater, or investing in a water catchment system for your garden.
