Topic: Single family homes in the U.S. (2024)


Fewer single-family homes in the future?

The prices of single-family homes spiked in 2022 - the culmination of a decade-long upward trend. That is widely attributed to construction struggling to meet the demand coming from the formation of new households and leading to a chronic shortage of newly built housing. Despite having grown steadily in recent years, the number of permits for the construction of new single-family homes has not recovered since plummeting in 2005. Like many other industries, the challenges facing the construction industry are many: inflation, surging construction costs, and mortgage rates. Another major limitation is that single-family homes require space, and this space is often not available where it is needed. Lately, zoning reform has been the talk of the town. Zoning is criticized for inhibiting construction by limiting housing density through minimum lot sizes, height limits, and the restriction on different building types. Oregon, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine are some of the states that have already taken action, by eliminating single-family zoning, changing parking requirements, or updating the state’s land use law. On a local level, Minneapolis, Raleigh, and Spokane have also made progress with the reform. How far these efforts go and what it means for single-family homes and housing affordability, only time will tell.

The typical American single-family home

American homes have gotten larger over the years. In 1975, a new home had an average floor area of about 1,660 square feet. By 2021, this figure had increased by about 825 square feet. Owning a house that is big enough is especially important for families with children, but the price tag coming with a large property can be a discouraging factor. That is possibly the reason why the age group most likely to buy a home bigger than the average was 42 to 56-year-olds. Outdoor features such as porches, patios, and decks are a popular addition to newly built homes. In 2021, about 330,000 new houses came with a patio and porch, making it the leading outdoor feature in the United States. Only about 87,000 new homes were built with no outdoor features.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Topic: Single family homes in the U.S. (2024)

FAQs

How many single-family homes are there in the United States? ›

In the United States, the majority of housing units are single-family houses – about 82 million out of the total 129 million occupied units in 2021. These homes are mostly owner-occupied, but a small share is rented.

How many single-family homes are built in the U.S. each year? ›

Home construction has not kept pace with population growth over the past 20 years. Last year, 912,000 single-family homes were built, according to building permit data from the US Census. The US population grew by more than 3 million people in that time. Since 2006, home construction has decreased by 55% nationwide.

How many single-family homes are there in the U.S. in 2023? ›

Number of detached single-family homes North America 2018, with a forecast until 2023. In 2018, there were 82.64 million detached single-family homes in North America, and this number is set to reach 84.69 million by 2023.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a single-family home? ›

The benefits of buying a single-family home
  • Space, calm and intimacy.
  • Buying a single family home to end the problems of co-ownership.
  • The value of a single-family home.
  • Possibilities for renovation and expansion.
  • A higher purchase price.
  • You will be responsible for exterior maintenance.
  • Housing taxes.
Mar 9, 2023

What percentage of homes are single-family in the US? ›

According to the American Community Survey, there were 138 million homes nationwide as of 2018. Sixty-seven percent were single-family units, 27 percent were multifamily units, and 6 percent were manufactured housing units.

What is single-family home in USA? ›

A single-family home is a free-standing residential building. Single-family homes are designed to be used as a single-dwelling unit, with one owner, no shared walls, and its own land.

Who is the largest owner of single-family homes in the US? ›

Invitation Homes, the nation's largest owner of single-family rentals, has "a couple of billion dollars of dry powder" for would-be mergers or acquisitions, CEO Dallas Tanner told investors.

How many owner occupied single-family homes in the US? ›

65.8 percent of all Americans live in their own home as of 2022 that's about 230 Million Americans.

What state has the most single-family homes? ›

Only one state—New York—has a majority of its housing in the form of multi-family units, with only 46.6% single-family units. In contrast, more than half of all states have 70% or more single-family units, led by Indiana and Kansas at 78.5% apiece.

Does the US have enough housing? ›

As a result, there is a sizable shortage of new homes after more than a decade of under-building relative to population growth, according to a new analysis from Realtor.com released Wednesday. The gap between single-family home constructions and household formations grew to 6.5 million homes between 2012 and 2022.

What is the housing problem in the US? ›

There is a shortage of 7.3 million affordable and available rental homes for renters with extremely low incomes in the US, up 8 percent from 6.8 million in 2019. The lack of housing options for renters with extremely low incomes are driving the overall affordable housing shortage across the country.

Why is single family housing a huge disadvantage? ›

Disadvantages Of Single Family Homes

Single-family homes also have their downsides. They cost more to own and maintain. They typically don't give you access to condo features such as common gyms, pools, tennis courts, etc. Homes require constant maintenance.

What are the pros of a single-family home? ›

Advantages of Single-Family Homes
  • A Bigger Yard. Single-family homes often have larger yards than attached units – and many attached units may not have a private yard at all. ...
  • No Shared Walls or Floors. ...
  • Privacy. ...
  • Room for Stuff. ...
  • Room to Grow. ...
  • Low Maintenance. ...
  • More Affordable. ...
  • Fewer Concerns When Traveling.

What are the benefits of a single home? ›

Single family homes have larger yards than attached condo and townhome units. More than that, the yard surrounding single-family homes is private, so you won't have any common areas shared between neighbors. This offers a great advantage for growing families with children who play outside.

How much is the average single home in the US? ›

Average home price in the United States: $436,800

The median home sales price is $436,800 as of the first quarter of 2023. That's a 32% increase from 2020, when the median was $329,000. MEDIAN SALES PRICE OF HOMES IN THE U.S.

What is the average lot size for a single family home in the US? ›

For the first time since the Census Bureau started tracking lot sizes for new single-family detached homes, the median lot size for homes sold in 2019 dropped to 8,177 square feet, or 0.188 of an acre. This represents a solid drop of 390 square feet since 2018 and a new record low.

What is another name for a single-family home? ›

A stand-alone house (also called a single-detached dwelling, detached residence or detached house) is a free-standing residential building. It is sometimes referred to as a single-family home in contrast with a multi-family residential dwelling.

What are the four types of houses? ›

Top 5 Different Types of Houses
  • Single-Family Home. A single-family home is a detached building built on a lot. ...
  • Condo. Condominiums, or condos, are units within larger buildings that share at least one wall with a neighboring unit. ...
  • Townhouse. ...
  • Multi-Family Home. ...
  • Co-op.
Feb 20, 2019

What is the meaning of family housing? ›

The real definition of “family housing” is any place a family winds up living. ‍

What is the most expensive single family home in USA? ›

1. The One, Los Angeles, California | Most Expensive Houses. The One, which took eight years to create, has surpassed all other pricey mansions in the US to claim the top rank. Nile Niami's modern masterpiece, this private mansion is situated on a five-acre site in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California.

Where are most single-family homes built? ›

Most of the top markets for single-family homes are in the southern U.S., according to data by the National Home Builders Association.

What is bigger than a single family home? ›

A multi-family home is a residential dwelling that includes more than one living unit. The difference between the multiple units is defined by each having a separate entrance, living facilities (kitchen, bathroom) and utilities.

How many Americans own homes without mortgage? ›

2021 count of owner households, with or without a mortgage

Buzz: California has 2.4 million households living what many consider a dream – being a free-and-clear homeowner, the third-highest count among the states.

How many houses in the US are empty? ›

Sixteen million homes currently sit vacant across the U.S. In every state across the country, many homes remain empty while hundreds of thousands of Americans face homelessness.

Where do most single people live? ›

2022 best cities in the U.S. for singles
  • San Francisco, CA. Population: 874,784. ...
  • Las Vegas, NV. Population: 644,594. ...
  • Durham, NC. Population: 317,665. ...
  • Detroit, MI. Population: 624,177. ...
  • Miami, FL. Population: 450,797. ...
  • New York, NY. Population: 8.93 million. ...
  • Boston, MA. Population: 687,257. ...
  • Seattle, WA. Population: 762,687.
Aug 12, 2022

How much land in the US is zoned for single-family homes? ›

Today, around 75% of land zoned for housing in major U.S. cities is zoned for single-family housing.

How bad is the US housing shortage? ›

Since there are 11 million such households, and only 3.7 million affordable units, the NLIHC concludes a gap of 7.3 million units exists. That isn't the same as a shortage in the overall stock of homes. In fact, the group calculates there are more rental units than renters.

What causes the housing crisis? ›

Causes. The imbalance between supply and demand; resulted from of strong economic growth creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs (which increases demand for housing) and the insufficient construction of new housing units to provide enough supply to meet the demand.

Why is US housing supply so low? ›

Several issues have contributed to the country's current housing shortage, including the pandemic, inflation and increased interest rates. Essentially, though, it's a problem of supply and demand: New home construction dropped precipitously after the Great Recession and has yet to fully recover.

What is the future of housing in the US? ›

After falling in 2023 and 2024, home prices are predicted to plateau in 2025 before rising again at just above the rate of inflation. However, due to the spike in home values from 2020 through 2022 due to record-low mortgage rates, median sales prices will take at least until 2027 to regain the highs of mid-2022.

What state has the worst housing shortage? ›

Story at a glance

California currently has the largest deficit of homes at 980,000.

Which states have housing crisis? ›

  • California, 978,000.
  • Texas, 322,000.
  • Florida, 289,000.
  • New York, 234,000.
  • Washington, 140,000.
  • New Jersey, 137,000.
  • Colorado, 127,000.
  • Arizona, 123,000.
Jul 21, 2022

What are the disadvantages of a single family? ›

Although a single-parent family has its benefits, it can have the following disadvantages:
  • Having less money. ...
  • Spending less quality time. ...
  • Work overload and multitasking‌ ...
  • Negative feelings. ...
  • Disciplining your children. ...
  • Behavioral problems. ...
  • Relationship problems. ...
  • Clinging to your children.
Sep 8, 2021

Why single-family homes are better than multifamily? ›

Single family homes typically have lower price points than multifamily properties, and the isolated nature of single family homes makes them easier to manage and maintain.

What is the main advantage of a single family home investment? ›

Low Overhead Costs

When it comes to investing, there are many different options to choose from. For example, you can invest in stocks, mutual funds, or single-family homes. Each option has its own set of pros and cons, but one key advantage of single-family homes is that they have relatively low overhead costs.

Why do single family homes appreciate faster? ›

The standard answer has been: Of course single-family homes appreciate faster. They are what most Americans prefer to live in, so there's stronger demand. They come with their own piece of land — and we all know that land is a crucial driver of value.

Why is it called a single-family home? ›

A single-family home is a house intended for one family to live in at a time. In most cases, this phrase is used to refer specifically to single-family detached homes—meaning freestanding structures on their own pieces of property and not attached to homes owned by other individuals.

What are 4 advantages of owning a home? ›

4 Benefits of Owning a Home
  • You Can Build Equity Over Time. Equity is the difference between how much your home is worth and how much you owe on your mortgage. ...
  • Your Monthly Payments Can Be Stable. ...
  • Owning a Home May Offer Tax Benefits. ...
  • You Can Create the Home You Want.
Aug 25, 2022

What are the advantages of living in a house? ›

Living in a house gives you more room than if you lived in a dorm or apartment. If you're a big family, living in a house may be for you. For big families, living in a house can grant each member some privacy. Many houses provide large kitchens and living rooms for family time.

How many homes in the U.S. are second homes? ›

How Many Homes in the U.S. are Second Homes? Through our analysis we found that there are at least 2.64 million second homes in the U.S. that are for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use. How many homes are there in the United States?

What is the largest single-family home? ›

Virtual Tour: Biltmore House—America's Largest Home.

What is the most expensive single-family home in USA? ›

1. The One, Los Angeles, California | Most Expensive Houses. The One, which took eight years to create, has surpassed all other pricey mansions in the US to claim the top rank. Nile Niami's modern masterpiece, this private mansion is situated on a five-acre site in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California.

What percent of Americans own homes? ›

Top Home Ownership Statistics In America: 65.8% of Americans own a home as of 2022. Some 74 million Americans, or about 27%, live in a condo or HOA property. 58.4 percent of the housing units were owner-occupied.

How many 2 million dollar homes are there in the US? ›

With over 78 million owner-occupied homes in the US: More than 2.1 million homes are valued between $1 million and $2 million. Nearly 600,000 homes are valued at $2 million or more!

Can you have 2 residences USA? ›

Legally, you can have multiple residences in multiple states, but only one domicile. You must be physically in the same state as your domicile most of the year, and able to prove the domicile is your principal residence, “true home” or “place you return to.”

Who owns the most houses in the US? ›

Among racial demographics, White Americans had the country's highest home-ownership rate, while African Americans had the lowest home-ownership rate. One study shows that home-ownership rates appear correlated with higher education attainment.

Who owns the most housing? ›

Leading apartment owners in the U.S. 2022, by units owned

Starwood Capital Group, which was the largest owner in 2022 with 115,000 units, is a private investment firm headquartered in Miami, Florida.

What is the most expensive home in America? ›

“The One” is the most expensive house in the US

Located in the Bel-Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, “The One” is on the market with a $295 million asking price. This 105,000-square-foot megamansion is the most expensive home ever. This is for the whole country, not just Los Angeles.

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