Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 22, 1992 TAG: 9203240026
SECTION: TODAY'S HOME PAGE: TH-18 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SARAH COX
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"Historically, in the late 1980s when things were somewhat booming, they wanted it all," said Andy Kelderhouse, vice president of Fralin and Waldron. "Now, people are much more cautious of what they'll pay for or what they'll pay for it."
"People want a heck of a lot more for their money," said Ron Boothe of Loeb Construction. They're more educated now, he said, and they want to consider every angle of optional pricing. "It's no longer an open checkbook," Booth said.
Boothe said that attitude goes for people across many economic stratas - from the $110,000-home buyer to the $350,000-home buyer.
Richard Wimberley of Boone & Company said, "We find that people are buying less house than they would qualify for - they're not pushing themselves to the limit."
For some home owners, being cautious means they'll finally buy a house, but not much more. For others, perhaps on their second or third house, the extras will be narrowed down to maybe the master bedroom or the kitchen, two areas which still receive emphasis.
Boothe and Kelderhouse both agree that the areas of importance in a house are the master bedrooms, master bathrooms and kitchens.
In 1980, a Penn Forest colonial master bathroom had a single-bowl sink, a commode and a 30-inch shower stall, according to Kelderhouse. "Now, that's a sure way to fail." On the other hand, he said, "There's a lot of pressure to have luxury areas - but no market to allow developers to put in those things."
Caution, said Kelderhouse, is reflected in the efficient use of space as well. This can mean that family rooms are combined with kitchens for the "great room" effect.
"I think for many years people ignored the fact that [the kitchen] is where people spent a lot of time. Therefore, existing stock doesn't have the sitting area/kitchen combination that new construction will. People are recognizing that kitchens are not just utility rooms, but living areas for the family," said Kelderhouse.
Boothe said the feature that's becoming less important is the living room, especially in lower-end homes. "We've kind of opened up the dining rooms and living rooms, or dining rooms and family rooms. People don't use the living room much anymore. We've gotten a lot more casual. I've got a living room and we use it twice a year."
Wimberley disagrees, although he said he, too, only uses his living room two or three times a year. "We're seeing a return to that traditional style of buying. Now they want a formal as well as an informal area."
But everyone agrees that low-maintenance homes are preferable. "You want to make the home as efficient as you can so you can have quality time together instead of quantity time," said Boothe. That might mean vinyl siding, clad windows, hardwood floors that just need to be damp-mopped, and of course, a low-cost heating system.
Wimberley said that vinyl siding has come a long way in quality and has lost some of the stigma once attached to it, although some developers still won't allow use of it in their subdivisions. Brick also represents low maintenance, as well as an opportunity toward rich architectural detail.
Quoin corners, Jake arches over windows, brick laid in a herringbone pattern under windows, brick turned vertically, and even the windows themselves - palladium and rounded, Wimberley said, are two prime choices. They also are fashionable details that can help make a statement. In addition, he said that there are more angles in front of the houses. These are the finishing touches that make each home, particularly in developments, unique.
The concept of planned neighborhoods is still popular after all these years, and according to "Professional Builder & Remodeler Magazine," these trends increasingly appear to reflect old-time ideas as well as a warm and casual lifestyle. As part of that trend, planned neighborhoods in all price ranges in the Roanoke Valley are a good investment, and in demand, Wimberley said.
"There is always a need for affordable housing - anytime a builder develops a good product within a good price range it will sell well," said Wimberley.
Kelderhouse said that consistency in design assures home buyers they won't have to worry about the kind of house built next to theirs, since developers have architectural control.
And according to Diana Crabtree of Mastin, Kirkland and Bolling, buying in a high-growth area will give you automatic appreciation. "But if you want to resell your home very quickly, you'll have to compete against current new construction," Crabtree said.
"There's an increased interest in developments," said Kelderhouse. "I don't create markets, I satisfy demands. There is a whole lot more community activity and interest within neighborhoods for gatherings."
by CNB