Characteristics of New Housing

Highlights of Annual 2011 Characteristics of New Housing

In 2011:

• The average single-family house completed was 2,480 square feet. In 2010, the average single-family house was 2,392 square feet.
• 33% of the new single-family homes sold in the U.S. had vinyl siding as the principal type of exterior wall material. For attached single-family homes sold, it was 41% and for detached single-family homes sold, it was 32%.
• 88% of all single-family homes completed had air-conditioning. By region, the proportions were 81% in the Northeast, 91% in the Midwest, 99% in the South, and 62% in the West.
• 39% of single-family homes completed had 4 or more bedrooms. 48% of them had 3 bedrooms.
• Of the single-family homes completed with 4 or more bedrooms, 57% had 3 or more bathrooms.
• 19% of new single-family homes sold had a garage that could hold 3 or more cars.
• 30% of single-family homes completed had a full or partial basement, 53% had a slab or other type of foundation, and 17% had a crawl space.
• 54% of single-family homes completed had 2 or more stories.
• 48% of new single-family homes sold had 1 fireplace and 5% had 2 or more fireplaces.
• The average new single-family home sold was built on a lot of 16,663 square feet. The average lot size for new homes sold inside metropolitan areas was 15,616 square feet. Outside metropolitan areas, it was 28,768 square feet.
• 56% of all single-family homes completed had a warm-air furnace installed as the primary type of heating system.
• Of the completed single-family homes with warm-air furnaces, 88% used gas, 11% used electricity, and 1% used oil.
• 62% of all new single-family homes sold were financed by a conventional loan. The proportion was 58% in 2010 and 62% in 2009. The proportion that were financed by an FHA-insured loan was 20% in 2011, 25% in 2010, and 24% in 2009.
• The average sales price of new single-family homes sold was $267,900. The average sales price was $272,900 in 2010, $270,900 in 2009 and $292,600 in 2008.
• The average price per square foot for new single-family homes sold was $83.38. Regionally, the average price per square foot was $111.37 in the Northeast, $87.53 in the Midwest, $76.73 in the South, and $96.12 in the West.
• Of the 138,000 multifamily units completed, 44% had one bathroom, 4% had 1½ bathrooms, and 53% had 2 or more bathrooms.
• 62% of multifamily units completed used electricity for heating fuel, while 37% used gas.
• The average square footage of multifamily units completed and built for sale was 1,408.
• 12% of multifamily units completed were age restricted. The proportion was 8% in 2010 and 9% in 2009.
• 9,000 multifamily buildings were completed. Of these, 18% were 2-unit buildings and 13% were 3 to 4-unit buildings.
• 89% of multifamily buildings completed had 1 to 3 floors and 11% had 4 or more floors.

Note: the estimates shown here are based on sample surveys and are subject to sampling variability as well as nonsampling error.