2024 Dates & Hours

Saturday, March 23 10am - 6pm

Sunday, March 24 11am - 5pm


Location

5441 Clinton Highway | Knoxville, TN 37912

Sponsors

Better, Not Bigger, Homes Among Trends in 2024


​​Following a brief uptick in new home sizes in 2021, the average size of a new home continues to inch smaller — dropping from 2,479 square feet in 2022 to 2,411 square feet in 2023, the smallest average size in 13 years — to match home buyer preferences for less square footage. According to NAHB’s latest What Home Buyers Really Want study, home buyers are looking for homes around 2,070 square feet, compared to 2,260 20 years ago.

“It’s related to two factors that are linked,” said Rose Quint, NAHB assistant vice president of survey research. “First, we’ve seen changes in home buyer preferences. Second, housing affordability has worsened in recent years.”

Builders are acting on this trend, with 38% indicating they built smaller homes in 2023 to help support home sales and 26% indicating they plan to build even smaller in 2024. They are also working to bridge the gap on housing affordability by cutting home prices, providing sales incentives and offering more affordable finishes. Median new homes prices dropped to $427,400 in 2023 — down 7 percentage points from 2022, a drop not seen since 2009 — while existing home prices continued to rise to $394,600, marking a 1 percentage point increase over the prior year.  

Home buyers are not only shifting their preferences on size; they’re shifting their overall design preferences as well, placing higher value on personalization and authenticity.  

“Our homeowners are looking to personalize their homes,” said Donald Ruthroff, AIA, founding principal at Design Story Spaces LLC. “They want to it feel like it was made just for them and be significantly different than their neighbors’ homes.”

This is reflected in the style of the home and the upgrades that buyers choose to incorporate into their homes, whether it’s creating an island that looks like a piece of furniture, higher quality cabinets or more expensive flooring.

Home features that remain at the top of buyers’ wish list include four outdoor features, two kitchen features and two related to energy efficiency:

Laundry room
Patio
Energy Star window
Exterior lighting
Ceiling fan
Garage storage
Front porch
Hardwood flooring
Full bath on the main level
Energy Star appliances
Walk-in pantry
Landscaping
Table space in the kitchen

Technology features are becoming increasingly popular, most notably security cameras, wired home security systems, programmable thermostats, video doorbells, multizone HVAC systems and energy management systems.

Other home features that have seen strong growth in popularity over the past 10 years include:

Quartz or engineered stone for kitchen countertops
Lighting control systems
Outdoor fireplaces
Outdoor kitchens
Built-in kitchen seating
Exposed beams

Additional information on home buyer trends can be found in NAHB’s What Home Buyers Really Want (2024 edition), available at builderbooks.com.


About HBAGK

The Home Builders Association of Greater Knoxville, established in 1951, is a non-profit trade association for the homebuilding industry. The primary function of the Home Builders Association of Greater Knoxville is to serve as the homebuilding industry watchdog. Each year HBAGK fervently responds to attacks on housing affordability.

In addition to monitoring issues that could negatively impact housing affordability, the association provides member services such as networking opportunities, educational programs, marketing events, and community service projects.

www.hbaknoxville.com​
www.hbat.org
www.nahb.org
www.theparadeofhomesknoxville.com

Admission is FREE! Parking is FREE!

Knoxville's Original Home Show   865.546.4665

Checklist for Finding and Hiring a Builder or Remodeler


Use this checklist to help you select a home builder or home remodeler to work on or build your home.

Contact your local home builders’ association for the names of member builders and remodelers. You can also ask family, friends or coworkers for recommendations.


Make sure the builder or home remodeler has a permanent business location and a good reputation with local banks and suppliers.


Find out how long they have been in the building business. It usually takes three to five years to establish a financially sound business. You want to make sure they will be around after the construction is complete to service any warranties.


Check out the company’s rating and if there have been any complaints filed with your local Better Business Bureau: bbb.org.


Make sure the builder/remodeler has sufficient workers compensation and general liability insurance. If not, you may be liable for any construction-related accidents on your premises.


Ask the builder/remodeler to provide you with names of previous customers. If they won’t, beware. If they do, ask the customers if they would hire the builder/remodeler again.


Ask if you can see the builder/remodelers work, both completed and in progress. Check for quality of workmanship and materials.


Do you feel you can easily communicate with the builder/remodeler?


Remember you will be in close contact with them throughout the construction process and afterward as you live in your new home.


Make sure the builder/remodeler provides you with a complete and clearly written contract. The contract will benefit both of you. If you are having a new home built, get and review a copy of the home warranty and homeowner manual as well.


Be cautious of unusually low-priced bids. If the builder/remodeler is unable to pay for the materials and labor as the project proceeds, this may indicate a potential problem. Keep in mind that less expensive does not necessarily mean better!


Verify that your remodeler is an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Renovator if you are planning work in a pre-1978 home that will disturb more than six square feet of painted surfaces inside the home or 20 square feet on the exterior of the home. Learn more about the EPA’s lead paint rule.