"We see a decline in housing activity for 2005. We've had such good years for the past four years. We don't expect 2005 to be another record year. We see an 8 to 9 percent decline in new-home sales and a 7 to 8 percent decline in existing home sales."
-- Orawin Velz
economist,
Fannie Mae
"Housing starts will be off 3 to 5 percent next year compared to this year. It's a decline, but it's coming off record highs for housing starts, and for new- and existing-home sales. New-home sales will be down by about 5 percent."
-- David Seiders
chief economist,
National Association
of Home Builders
Home Design
"The size of the home is going to stabilize at around 2,350 square feet, but the volume will keep going up. The standard ceiling height is nine feet for an average home and 10 feet for an upscale home. Ceilings will trend higher.
"There's a trend to building more two-story homes, even though our studies have indicated that many people prefer single-story homes. Builders like two-story homes because the cost per square foot for a two-story home is much less.
"More quality features in the home is a trend that we'll see in 2005. Quality rather than size.
"Storage will continue to be a major issue. Consumers are saying that storage is more and more important. Already, storage is close to 10 percent of a home. Walk-in pantries are a must.
"Two kitchens are becoming pretty common -- the inside kitchen and the outside kitchen. Fixed barbeques, pizza ovens, deep fryers with a roof or a cover on them. Outside kitchens are becoming very popular.
"More and more separate toilets. And in upscale homes, bidets are a must. Linen closets in the bathroom. The bathroom as a retreat.
"We'll see security systems, energy management systems, lighting control systems more and more in 2005.
"More use of columns and more use of arches in homes to give them a better look."
-- Gopal Ahluwalia
director of research,
National Association
of Home Builders
"If we could build it, everything would be bigger. The market demand is for bigger, fancier homes. But there are constraints in the approval process. Consumers want bigger baths, bigger kitchens, more moldings, more luxury. If we could get through the constraints, we would build four-car garages, because people want them.
"There's a stronger and stronger market for in-fill development, closer-in, more urban type of housing, stacked condos, high-rises. That's a trend that's definitely growing.
"We're always going further out from the District. We're not in West Virginia yet, but we're on the outskirts of it. We're stretching further out in Maryland and Virginia. What used to be the boondocks is now the trendy place to live."
-- Cory DeSpain
vice president, Maryland/
Virginia Division,
Toll Brothers Inc.
"2005 will continue to see a strong demand for multi-family housing, for condos in particular. With the aging of the population, condos offer a very attractive lifestyle for people. I see condos continuing to be popular."
-- Tom Bozzuto
chief executive,
Bozzuto Group
"Screened-in porches continue to be popular. And more and more homeowners are finishing their basements. Homeowners are looking at their basements as not just cellars anymore; people are putting a lot of money into their basements now. Entertainment centers, tiling, carpet, crown molding and a huge number of built-ins. They're enlarging their windows downstairs too to get more natural light in.
"Bathrooms will also continue to be a big focus. You have 100 percent more options in cabinetry than you had five years ago, so many more options for finishings, detailing and fittings."
-- Mark Richardson
president,
Case Design/Remodeling Inc.
"We already know it's going to be a good year because we're booked up until September. All of next year is fully sold, deposits in hand.
"The majority of our projects are pop-up renovations, one-story ramblers where we're putting on a full second floor, master suite and extra bathrooms. . . .
"Most of our clients are doing big projects, major work, significant remodels, projects that cost anywhere from $200,000 to $500,000.
"When they remodel, people are looking for those extra details. The detailing on the front porch, built-in bar areas with little racks, glass storage areas. They want it special, unique and personalized, not cookie cutter."
-- Chris Neumann
