Real Estate Trends in the New Year

So, what will be big in 2018 hold for residential real estate? Here’s what builders have to say, including insta-living, using dark colors, pairing different metal finishes and multigenerational living:

Easy Living

Building a new home is exciting because families can choose floor plans, finishes and more to personalize the home. But, sometimes all those choices can be overwhelming or families need to move in quickly due to job moves and other reasons. That’s where move-in ready new homes come in: the decisions have already been made so buyers can move in right away.

“In the past, we might have left extras for the buyer to handle after the closing, but today’s buyers want us to deal with them,” Ken Fixler, president of Barnett Homes, an infill builder that specializes in luxury homes in the Chicago area, said in a news release. “Buyers prefer to move in and not worry about any last to-dos.”

Maintenance-free living will also be big in 2018, says Brian Hoffman, of Chicago-based Red Seal Homes. “People simply lead busy lives,” Hoffman said in the news release. “With the demands of work, kids’ activities and personal hobbies, they want a worry-free home where they don’t have to spend time scheduling or undertaking lawn care or snow removal.”

Embracing the Darkness

Pantone named Ultra Purple as its 2018 Color of the Year. This bold hue is a green light for homeowners to take a bold step in their home design and décor. Which means that embracing dark colors in the home will be a popular option in the coming year.

Elissa Morgante, co-principal of Morgante Wilson Architects, an architecture and interior design firm based in Evanston, Ill., says many of their clients choose dark options. ”We do such detailed design with the interior architecture that outlining the room or window in dark trim helps punctuate and call attention to those unique features,” Morgante said in a news release. “We’ve also been going all-in with dark tones for walls and window treatments. Dipping a room in a dramatic shade like midnight navy, eggplant or charcoal is a fun way to embrace a deep, rich color and the result is deliciously inviting.”

Three colors that can help you get the dark look in your home? Olympic Paint’s Black Magi, Glidden’s Deep Onyx and PPG’s Black Flame.

Mixing Metals

In the past, it was an unspoken rule that you didn’t pair different metals or materials to ensure you didn’t have clashing looks. It’s time to throw that notion out the window!

Morgante says layering a variety of metal finishes such as brushed brass and copper adds warmth to a space. Homeowners need not make permanent changes to their home for the look; they can use accessories to add some metal design in the home.

Multigenerational Living

Multigenerational living is nothing new. However, not since the 1950s have families lived in multigenerational households as they do today, according to Pew Research.

That means that multigenerational homes need to accommodate all members of the family, rather than simply setting up adult children in the garage or grandma and grandpa in a small guest room. Today’s builders and designers are taking these living arrangements into account.

“Homebuilders are learning quickly that privacy and accessibility are two must-haves for multigenerational living,” said Mary Cook, founder of Chicago commercial interior design firm Mary Cook Associates, in a news release. “Designing both upper and lower levels with master bedrooms suites allows a home to be adaptable for returning children, grandparents, guests or roommates.

“Also critical are private ‘getaway’ areas, such as sitting rooms or work spaces in bedrooms. With plenty of spaces available for family and alone time, it’s easier to merger lifestyles, work and entertaining schedules, allowing generations to live successfully together.”

In 2018, buyers will look toward homes that are ready to move into and that require little maintenance, will go bold by mixing metal finishes and using dark colors and will live with multiple generations under one roof. Happy new year!