What home sellers can learn from the "New American Home"

by Kevin Durawa

The National Association of Home Builders' 2012 "New American Home" model was unveiled this past weekend at the International Builders Convention. For those who aren't familiar, every year, a high-end model home is designed and built for the event that attempts to encompass housing market trends across the country. For those of you interested in selling a home this year, we thought that taking a look at some of the features that the "New American Home" has to offer could provide you the perspective to help you sell your home faster, particularly with the help of one of your local real estate agents in New York:

1. Good things come in small packages. If you think that your home is having trouble selling because it's on the smaller side, think again. This year's model measures 4,181 square feet, which, while still large, is a significant decrease in size from last year's 6,800-square-foot model. In fact, a more modest home may very well be appealing to people interested in buying a home, because the unstable economy and unemployment rate means that even well-off Americans are opting for more frugal, fiscally responsible investments.

2. Green is the new black. Yet again, green amenities such as a electric car charging station and solar paneling were featured on the model. While these are pricey investments, you and your family can make several relatively inexpensive "green" additions to your home, such as low-flow faucets, weatherstripping or automatic thermostats, that will make your home even more appealing to buyers.

3. One big, happy family. This year's "New American Home" also featured something interesting: a spare bedroom and wing for an additional family member, such as a recent graduate or grandparent. Many viewers noted that this development could be a result of the new trend in multigenerational homes, perhaps as a result of high unemployment rates among young people and heavy retirement home costs. As such, converting a study or basement into an additional bedroom could help when you market your home to these families.