Must Haves in Houses in 2010

Houses have gotten smaller, on average, in the last year, down 40 ft from 2008 to 2009. But that doesn't mean that buyers are looking for simpler homes. Items that used to be considered luxurious are now seen by buyers of old and new homes as necessities. The trends in new and remodeled home for 2010 are:

1. Walk-in closets in the master bedroom.
2. Laundry rooms.
3. Insulated front doors.
4. Great rooms.
5. Energy-efficient windows.
6. Linen closets.
7. Programmable thermostats.
8. Energy-efficient appliances and lighting.
9. Separate shower and tub in master bathrooms.
10. Nine-foot ceilings on the first floor.

Prediction of Good News from National Association of Realtors

In the Realtor magazine NAR summarized a Bloomberg News survey of 53 economists. There were asked what they thought was going to happen this quarter. The results are that:

1. Construction starts in September are expected to hit a 610,000 annual rate, the most since last November.
2. Sales of existing homes likely rose to a two-year high.
3. Because of fear of a relapse, the Federal Reserve is predicted to leave interest rates low for a few more months.
4. Building permits, a sign of future growth, probably rose to a 590,000 annual pace, also the highest level since November, the Commerce Department is likely to announce.
5. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo index is expected to rise to 20 from 19, the economists say.

All of the this points to a rise in building, which is usually done by second time home buyers. So more people will be putting their first home or condo on the market, and moving into a larger house.

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2009101901?OpenDocument