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AIA Releases Results of Home Design Trend Survey

The report also finds that mixed-use developments are still gaining ground, but at a slower rate than in previous years.

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 12/22/2008 12:00:00 AM

Results of the American Institute of Architects Home Design Trend Survey for the third quarter of 2008 are in, and they confirm what for many is a foregone conclusion -- the burst of the housing bubble is having a significant impact on the way homes are built, bought and maintained.

The survey shows that consumer preferences in community design are shifting away from areas outside of metropolitan hubs, and toward infill sites with greater access to public transportation options. Developments clustered around denser areas are taking the place of traditional neighborhoods, where homes on small lots hug streets with sidewalks.

"As home values have dropped in most markets, buyers are considering which options will have the most resale value," says AIA chief economist Kermit Baker. "Infill locations, with their convenient access to employers, retail, entertainment and public transit options, are proving to be appealing from both a livability and investment perspective."

The report also finds that mixed-use developments are still gaining ground with homebuyers, but at a slower rate than in recent years. The AIA attributes this to the fact that additional uses may already be present in newly popular infill locations. For the same reason, a similar growth rate rate holds true for dedicated open space and recreational facilities in existing developments.

The survey concludes that billings at residential architecture firms continue to tumble, a decline mirrored by the flattening home improvement market.