The New Trend in Affluent Housing

Just because trends change and the economic fluctuates (often radically), the desire to build is strong, particularly among the wealthy. So, where are the wealthy going?

We have noted a trend in Bainbridge Island, Washington, Napa, California, Simsbury, Connecticut and Dutchess County, New York that seems to be solid enough for us to mention to our doctors who want to know where the affluent are going. Rather than look at modern looking homes, these developers are selling history by the foot. We have to credit Christina S. N. Lewis of the Wall Street Journal for the lead. The developers are looking to mimic historic styles called “New Ruralism.” Homes are unique inside and out from their neighbors. They have all the latest conveniences of new-built homes but they have a character to them that is more like the homes of 200 years past. They all have in common the look of an agrarian past. Many have working farms of vineyards as part of the development.

These homes look as though they fit better with the landscape rather than seeming to “master” it.

These developments can be fairly large. One called “Serenbe” near Atlanta has more than 420 homes. Most of these homes start in the $600,000s in the more rural parts of the country and can easily go for more than $1,000,000. The idea is to offer “character” with the homes. Less expensive versions of these trend are found in Bainbridge Island, WA which as just opened 70 “bungalows” of 2,200 to 2,600 square feet.

While we are neither critics nor fans of this development, we certainly have recognized that from those who can afford spec homes, we believe that this is a long-term trend among the wealthy. Rather than offer cramped neighborhoods, these places look like there are individuals in that community.

Professional office space is something of a challenge because developers seem almost antagonistic toward non-residential buildings. That is why we have seen “town centers’ coming into these areas that closely resemble the professional offices of a century ago. Very often, these are offices that appear to be homes but built near a shopping district. When possible, we would advise the motif of the community to be carried into the reception areas an even treatment rooms. But as we have toured these spaces, we note that they TEND to be smaller (narrower) and offer less square footage than many mature practices would prefer.