Housing Trend 2010: Grand(er) Entries

From More Square Feet to More Volume, Cont.

I've discussed previously the trend toward homes not necessarily with more square feet, but more "volume" (higher ceilings, more and larger windows, wider stairs and halls, etc. -- see, "Not More Square Feet, More per Square Foot"; "Cranking Up the Volume").

That trend applies to the exterior of homes, too.

So, builders (and their clients) are designing homes with wider and more generous front doors, steps, porticoes (if consistent with the house style), and even wider walkways from the sidewalk to the front door.

The cumulative effect is enhanced curb appeal -- and the suggestion of grand, sweeping spaces inside.

All those features are vividly on display at 3812 Chowen Avenue, in Minneapolis' Linden Hills neighborhood (pictured above).

The home was built by Elevation, a division of Streeter, and is being listed by Edina Realty's Sheila Cronin for $1.449M.

(Oh -- and the inside's stunning, too!)

Home Buyer Incentives Multiply

"$5,000 here, $10,000 there"

To paraphrase a *famous quote, "$5,000 here, $10,000 there, and pretty soon you're talking about real money."

In this case, the money consists of incentives offered to first-time home Buyers.

New home builders have been offering Buyer incentives for quite some time (upgraded finishes, discounted loans, plasma TVs, etc.). However, now government is joining the party in a serious way.

At the federal level, there is increasing speculation that the $7,500 repayable tax credit now offered Buyers will simply become a straight credit -- no repayment required.

Locally, a number of municipalities are dangling increasingly fat incentives to first-time Buyers to tackle foreclosed and abandoned homes.

The leader so far appears to be Brooklyn Center, offering a $10,000 package to qualifying Buyers.

Do I hear $15,000??

*The original quote was from Senator Everett Dirksen, whose decimal place was actually billions.