MetroFuture’s land use plan would provide many opportunities for families to find suburban single-family homes, especially smaller (<1,700 square feet), more reasonably priced homes. The region would produce fewer single family homes (52,000 versus 132,000) overall, but many more single family homes on quarter-acre lots (25,000 versus 13,000).

Supply of single family homes will also be impacted by demographic trends. Nearly 1.7 million baby boomers in the region will move past the age of 65 between 2000 and 2030. Some will move out of state, and, according to recent surveys, at least 40% of those who plan to stay will want to downsize to smaller, less expensive housing. Increased supply of smaller units in attractive locations means that these seniors will have more opportunities to downsize. As a result, there will be an increased supply of existing single-family homes available.

From 1998 – 2002, the median lot size for new single family homes was 0.91 acres per house. If Current Trends continue, regional average single family lot sizes would continue to grow, up to 1.05 acres regionwide, and nearly 1.2 acres in Developing Suburbs. 64% of the region’s new single-family housing would be on lots of one acre or more, and less than 10% of new single-family housing would be on lots of ¼ acre or less.

Objectives:

• By 2030, there will be 17,500 new suburban single family homes less than 1,700 square feet and/or on lots 1/4 of an acre or smaller.
• Average lot size for new single family houses in suburban communities would be 0.75 acres (0.62 acres in Maturing Suburbs, and 0.79 acres in Developing Suburbs).