WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Building a home has long been a cornerstone of the American Dream, but with the current economic climate, many are finding themselves scaling back.
Jacob Bryant of Danny Reed Construction in Warner Robins says that with rising costs, homeowners are increasingly using a process of elimination to maximize their space.
According to U.S. Census Bureau data from 2023, the median size of new single-family homes was approximately 2,286 square feet, down from a peak of 2,526 square feet in 2014.
“People are opting out of these bigger, more extravagant homes and going with what they can afford,” Bryant said.
In today’s market, a basic 2,000-square-foot home costs between $350,000 and $400,000. To manage expenses, buyers are moving away from traditional designs that include hallways and separate family rooms.
“People can’t afford to have those extra spaces anymore. They have to optimize the house for their budget,” Bryant noted.
Current trends favor open floor plans, which minimize walls and doors to create more versatile living areas.
“Less walls, less doors, the better,” Bryant explained.
For those struggling with high material costs, updating existing homes can be a more cost-effective alternative.
“People’s kids are graduating college and can’t afford to buy a house, so they’re moving back in with their parents," Bryant said. "Parents are then remodeling basements and great rooms into livable spaces."
To help manage costs, Rocket Mortgage suggests creating a detailed budget and pricing out every aspect of the project to avoid unexpected expenses and better control the overall cost.