Yes, it's true. New home sizes are trending smaller. At least according to a report this week from the NAHB on New Home Permits. They are certainly trending Greener. At least our new homes are. DallasDirt questioned whether Dallas homes were actually trending smaller in the recent Will Dallas Homes Get Smaller? article. In her article, Candy concluded with the question, where, other than Little Forest Hills.
I posted a comment to the DallasDirt article, but also felt the need to post the information myself. Compelled even. We have undergone a paradigm shift more than just a shift or trend. I've become very Green, it seems. Don't get me wrong, I'll never be Al Gore, and I frankly believe carbon credits are bunk, but Green Building makes alot of sense. I completely embraced the Green Building concept the first time I got a utility bill with a comma in it. Thank you, Mr. Smith, I told you I'd steal your quote.
In 2005 and 2006, our Uptown townhouses ranged from 2,800 to 3,400 square feet and ranged from the $600s to about $1 million. In 2008, we started Lexington Park at Rice Field in Plano, two blocks from the DART light rail station. These luxury townhomes are all Green Built in a low impact neighborhood. They range from 1,658 to 2,351 square feet and are priced from the $250s to $320s. At Lexington Park we have focused on design, quality, green and, obviously, cost of ownership. With 4.25% fixed rate mortgages, lower utility bills due to the Green certifications, access to DART rail transit and property tax discounts potentially available, the overall cost of ownership is very low.