As the housing industry continues to improve and buyers that have been on the sideline return to the marketplace, it is clear that they are not looking for the same product mix as previously offered. A recent article in Builder Magazine, published by the National Association of Homebuilders, states that buyers in the new economy are poised to reject gratuitous design in favor of highly functioning space that gets used every day. The best-selling homes today often dispense with formal living and dining rooms and stress function in key workspaces such as the kitchen and bath and emphasize rooms where people spend the most time, over rooms that are just nice to have. It is also clear that these homes confront rather than avoid the cost of operating a home after move in.

These trends are apparent in both new construction and the renovation of existing homes. As you evaluate your construction options, it pays to be thoughtful about creating living environments that will ensure a solid return on your investment. It is important to understand and evaluate more than just the initial move in costs and to strive to choose solutions that will deliver a high-performance, energy-efficient home that will address your needs in the future as well as today.