Did you know that Florida was the only U.S. state (including Hawaii) without snowfall this past Wednesday?
Hard to believe, but it’s true.
That didn’t stop more than 55,000 attendees from soaking up the sunshine as winter temps dipped below the freezing mark at this week’s 67th annual International Builders Show (IBS) in Orlando, Fla.
The IBS, held by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), attracted homebuilders, remodelers, suppliers and marketing professionals from around the world – all in search of the latest market trends and an analysis of the economic outlook for the homebuilding industry.
For the seventh consecutive year, my husband was a featured presenter at the show’s NSMC/IRM Meet the Expert Roundtable.
David shared his insights into the evolution of branding in the new economy.
On Wednesday evening, his team at BLF Marketing was honored with an award at The Nationals – the industry’s black-tie version of the Oscars.
BLF won a top award for the Best Special Promotion in association with Ole South Properties’ “Welcome to Yes” program.
So what was the buzz at the IBS?
As you can imagine, with the strained economy and an industry adapting to the sluggish housing market, there were ongoing discussions and programs dealing with operations, management and generating sales.
But, the hottest topics were focused on affordability, sustainability and the influence of female buyers on the marketplace.
Affordability has taken center stage as the gripping effects of the recession continue to be a drag on the housing industry.
While interest rates remain near record lows, there is no question that consumer behavior has shifted as a result of lost job and sliding home values.
Statistical analysis clearly indicates that the housing market will grow over the next 10 years, but the percentage of owner-occupied housing units (which is expected to bottom out around 62 percent) may never return to his high mark of 69 percent.
It seems clear that two trends are developing, although they may be reversed over time as the economy improves and we forget the economic pain of the last few years. Homes are getting smaller and buyers are looking for more functionality and better design.
This means that offering specific rooms for activities such as home theaters, libraries, guest suites and playrooms will be less common in future homes.
Homebuyers of the future will trade off bigger spaces for better amenities in spaces like the kitchen.
As you might expect, recently released studies indicate that buyers are more desirous of flexible living spaces. Essentially rooms with core functions are worth paying for, but the excessive extras and single purpose specialty rooms are becoming less viable. There are some exceptions.
For example, today’s work environment is pushing more people to work from home and the demand for home office space is increasing.
The unknown is whether consumers’ previous desire for the “McMansion” will someday return when consumer confidence regains a foothold in the market.
As a reminder, it’s not too late to reserve your seat for our “HOA Symposium” on Jan. 27.
We’ll treat you to a free dinner at Parthenon Grille and introduce you to a new approach to better HOA management –created by our team to help improve community relations between the HOA board and residents.
Seating is limited, so reserve your place today by calling 397-4024 or emailing me at HOA@AnnHoke.com.
For more information or comments, contact her at 397-4024 or ann@annhoke.com. |
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