Over the past week or so I have had several buyer requesting I keep my eyes open for a new single-family home in Old Naples with square footage around 3600. As it turns out this is somewhat of a rarity especially south of 5th Avenue South. Most homes are starting above 4000 sqft. The market has seen a trend over the past few years of homes being built with smaller square footage than what we saw prior to the 2008-2010 slump. I represent a spec home in The Moorings at 471 Spinnaker that is just under 3700 sqft where the 5 homes I represented in the same neighborhood prior to this one were all over 4000 sqft.
The evolution of the floor plan is obvious when you look at it on a larger time scale. In the 1960's development in Naples consisted of small 1400-1700 square foot ranch homes with a carport or single car garage. A split bedroom plan was rare. The condominiums from this era were even smaller with most not acceding 1000 sqft and a majority had common laundry facilities. As we entered the 1970's some homes were expanded to include a formal living room and we started to see split bedrooms and 2 car garages.During the 1980's condominiums started to trend larger with laundry facilities in residence and carports to keep the sun off your car. 1990's saw the birth of the McMansion and filling every last inch of yard with house. Larger bedrooms and walk in closets even for guest rooms. We also began to see more "open" floor plans making large living spaces integrating kitchen/dining/living room into a Florida great room concept. 3 car garages and elevators in every home, lutron lighting and vacuum systems . Condominiums started living larger and we added amenities to the buildings such as work out facilities and game rooms.
It is interesting to look at these trends and try to guess where we are going. Now that we are well into the second decade of the new century we are starting to see technology becoming a huge factor in homes with foam insulation, high impact doors and windows, ipad systems that run the functions of your home from anywhere in the world. Green technology has become cost effective and a huge sales point for a lot of homes. Pools have started to move away from hazardous chemicals to systems friendlier to the environment, body, and clothing such as salt water and now Ozone pools. We have seen interest in maintaining some kind of yard to enjoy as a garden and to play in which may have been the main influence of houses trending smaller or on the other end of the spectrum it is causing buyer/builders to purchase two homes/lots and building one larger home with a nice surrounding yard and larger outdoor living areas.
If you have interest in discussing the market or going out and looking at new homes on the market in Port Royal, Aqualane Shores, Old Naples, and The Moorings areas please contact me at [email protected] or 239-641-3876. I will help you Live Exceptionally!
Please contact Adam Carriero at [email protected] or 239-641-3876. I am available for consultation on the Naples, Florida, market.