by Alexandra Smith
WHAT’S HAPPENING
- White picket fence? Eh. Built-in iPod docking station? Yes, please! The Millennial dream home is green, wired and within walking distance from urban hustle and bustle.
- Developers across the country are taking note. In Atlanta, home builders recently hosted a forum called “Impacts of Gen Y on Real Estate Development,” where they learned that “lots of acreage” can read “lack of access,” small is beautiful and green is non-negotiable (AJC.com 10.7.08).
- “[Twenty-somethings] want homes that offer more connection to the neighborhood instead of privacy for their owners,” said 29-year-old Kansas City architect Ryan Townsend. And as for green design, “It’s a trend the way indoor plumbing is a trend.”
WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS
- Yes, the economy’s put 20something home owning aspirations on hold for the time being. But not forever. When they do return to the market they’ll be a force to be reckoned with, thanks to their size and growing economic clout.
- If you build it, they will come. If you build it their way, that is. A generation used to getting things on their terms won’t slacken expectations for something as important as a home.
RESOURCES
