What will homes look like in 2036? A new study tells us

July 30, 2018 - 2 min read

The future of single-family

Single-family homes are getting bigger. And according to a new study, by 2036, they’ll run 3,000 square feet each, on average — a full 1,000 more than the average 1999 home.

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Homes of tomorrow

Porch.com recently analyzed housing trends to predict what homes might look like down the line. And what they found? Houses are getting larger — while lot sizes are shrinking.

According to their forecast, the average American home will clock in at 3,000 square feet by 2036. In 1999, single-family homes averaged just 2,000.

Prices will likely rise to reflect that larger size, with the average home price hitting $305K by 2036 — up from 2016’s $198K. Lot sizes, on the other hand, won’t follow suit. Porch.com predicts lots to span 25,000 square feet — down from 31,000 in 2016.

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Other predictions

The study also predicts the rise of four-bedroom homes, patios and fiber cement siding over the next two decades. Nearly 60 percent of homes will have a two-car garage, while 56 percent will have two stories.

Fireplaces, basements and decks are expected to subside, as are one-story homes. A full 100 percent of houses will have central air.

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On the buyer side of things, Porch.com predicts FHA financing and cash purchases to increase by 2036. This could make homeownership more affordable for many Americans.

“Fewer homes in the future may be purchased with conventional home loans, giving way to a rising popularity of FHA home loans,” Porch.com reported. “With lower overall down payments and easier approval ratings, FHA home loans provide access to more lenders with different criteria, making owning a home more accessible for millions of potential buyers.

Conventional financing will still reign supreme though, accounting for nearly 58 percent of all home loans, according to the study.

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Aly J. Yale
Authored By: Aly J. Yale
The Mortgage Reports contributor
Aly J. Yale is a mortgage and real estate writer based in Houston who has contributed to Forbes and worked for organizations such as The Dallas Morning News, PBS, NBC, and Radio Disney.