1. Housing Characteristics in the U.S.
Home Improvement research Institute

2. Purpose and sources
When it comes to home improvement, the characteristics, home type, and quality are major driving factors in determining maintenance and projects. Homes have different needs depending on things like exterior material, age, or geographic region. This is aimed at aiding HIRI members in getting a better scope of what their potential customers needs.
All information in the report is comprised of public sources (American Housing Survey, U.S. Census Bureau) and HIRI proprietary research (Recent Home Buyer Study, Project Decision Study)

3. Current Housing Landscape

4. U.S. Occupied Households In Millions
Number of occupied households has been stunted over the last decade. The number of households increased by more than 10 million between 1995 and 2005, but only grew by about 250,000 from 2005 to 2015
Source: American Housing Survey

5. Existing Single Family Home sales Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate
Source: American Housing Survey

6. Units In the housing structure
Source: American Housing Survey

7. Housing Characteristics
Expect the number of basements to drop, and number of slabs to increase as years go by. Only just over a quarter of new-built homes have a basement, while concrete slabs make up almost 60% of new builds
Source: American Housing Survey

8. Housing Characteristics
Median Square Footage:
1500 sqft.
Median Year Homes Built:
1976
Homeownership Rate:
63.6%
Source: American Housing Survey

9. Housing Statistics By Region
West
Midwest
Homeownership Rate:
59.0%
Homeownership Rate:
67.6%
Median Square Footage:
1525 sqft.
Median Year Homes Built:
1979
Median Square Footage:
1560 sqft.
Median Year Homes Built:
1971
Source: American Housing Survey

10. Housing Statistics By Region
Northeast
South
Homeownership Rate:
60.6%
Homeownership Rate:
65.4%
Median Square Footage:
1475 sqft.
Median Year Homes Built:
1961
Median Square Footage:
1554 sqft.
Median Year Homes Built:
1984
Source: American Housing Survey

11. Rooms and when a home was built
Source: American Housing Survey

12. Amenities and Features
10% have secondary air conditioner

13. Amenities and Features
Source: American Housing Survey

14. Plumbing
Public utilities dominate most homes, where wells and septic tanks are only prevalent in more rural areas
Source: American Housing Survey

15. House Quality
The vast majority homeowners find their housing quality adequate. The most common issues homeowners have are foundation issues, either cracks, concrete crumbling, or holes
Source: American Housing Survey

16. Housing Quality
Source: American Housing Survey

17. Characteristics over the years Of New Built Homes

18. Home Sizes Through the years
Since the 1970s, home sizes in each geographic region have been similar, with the exception of the Midwest, which has consistently been roughly 10% smaller.
Source: US Census Bureau

19. Beds and Baths
Source: US Census Bureau

20. The Home Structure
Build material is very dependent on geographic region. For example, vinyl siding is quite popular in the Northeast and Midwest, but is rather rare in the West, where stucco dominates, and in the south there is no dominant building type.
Source: US Census Bureau

21. HIRI Research
What are recent purchasers buying?

22. Current Home Description
The average home purchased was a moderately-sized (2,200 sq. ft.) detached home with 3 to 4 bedrooms and 2 to 3 bathrooms.
Description Of Home
Square Footage
Number Of Bedrooms
Number Of Bathrooms
Single-family, detached home
Semi-detached, single-family home
Attached multi-unit home
Some other type
Average
2,204 Feet
Median
1,700 Feet
Base = Total Respondents (807)
Base = Total Respondents (807)
Q4. How would you describe your home? Is it…?
Q5. How many bedrooms does your current home have?
Q6. And how many bathrooms does your current home have?
Q7. What is the approximate square footage of your house?
Source: Statistical Tables 29-32; Banner 1 Weighted
Average
3.6
Average
2.7
Base = Total Respondents (807)
Base = Total Respondents (807)
Source: HIRI Recent Home Buyer Study

23. Characteristics Of Current Home
Recent home buyers typically bought mature homes rather than new homes, and most plan to stay in the home long term (6+ years). More than half bought a home with more than ¼ of an acre of property.
Type Of Home
Age Of Current Home
Years Planned To Stay
Base = Existing Home (726)
Base = Total Respondents (807)
Property Size
Property Value
Q14. How long do you plan on staying in your current primary home?
Q15. What is the age of your current primary home?
Q16. What is the approximate size/acreage of your current primary home's property?
Q17. What is the approximate value of your current primary home and property?
Source: Statistical Tables 40-43; Banner 1 Weighted
Median
$180,000
Base = Total Respondents (807)
Base = Total Respondents (807)
Source: HIRI Recent Home Buyer Study

24. Characteristics Of Current Home
As homes age in the Northeast, a higher number of new-built homes are being purchased compared to other regions, while the Midwest is relying largely on existing stock. Ultimately, those who purchased existing homes are much more satisfied with their purchase decision in hindsight
Q14. How long do you plan on staying in your current primary home?
Q15. What is the age of your current primary home?
Q16. What is the approximate size/acreage of your current primary home's property?
Q17. What is the approximate value of your current primary home and property?
Source: Statistical Tables 40-43; Banner 1 Weighted
Source: HIRI Recent Home Buyer Study

25. Current Home Purchase Motivation
Common purchase motivators involve financial benefits, having more space, and enjoying greater convenience (being closer to family, work, etc.). Less than 1 in 10 recent home buyers mentioned downsizing (8%) as a motivator (not shown).
2016 Top-10 Motivations
Owning A Home Is More Affordable Than Renting
Better Location/Neighborhood
Needed More
Square Footage
Bedrooms
Wanted To
Build Equity
Wanted
Newer/Updated Home
Wanted To Be Closer
To Family
Bathrooms
Acreage
To Work
Base = Total Respondents
Q8. Which of the following describe your motivations for purchasing your current primary home?
Source: Statistical Tables 33; Banner 1 Weighted
Source: HIRI Recent Home Buyer Study

26. New Home Purchase Motivation
New home buyers (recent home buyers who bought a brand new home) appreciate the many, significant benefits that come with buying a brand new home.
Wanted Everything New/Fresh
Better Value/
Right Price
Like The Area
Wanted It Built To My Desired Specifications
Less
Maintenance
Existing Homes Didn’t Have What We Wanted
Could Move In When I Wanted To
Wanted A Home
Warranty
Some Other Reason
Base = Purchased A New Home
Q9. Why did you purchase a newly built home for your current home rather than a previously owned home?
Source: Statistical Tables 34; Banner 1 Weighted
!Caution small base size.
Source: HIRI Recent Home Buyer Study

27. Existing Home Purchase Motivation
Existing home buyers are largely motivated by the value they see in these types of homes.
Better Value/
Right Price
Like The
Neighborhood
Could Fix Up And
Add Value
Could Move In When
I Wanted To
Like The Character
Of Older Homes
Better
Selection
Well-Established Landscaping
Other
Base = Purchased An Existing Home
Q10 Why did you purchase a previously owned home for your current home rather than a newly built home?
Source: Statistical Table 35; Banner 1 Weighted
Source: HIRI Recent Home Buyer Study

28. Base = New Home Or Vacant Existing Home (231)
Move-In Readiness
Homes purchased recently are more often move-in ready than requiring major renovations.
Most were previously owner-occupied and had only been vacant a few months.
Move-In Readiness
Home Status
Length Of Vacancy
7-Point Scale
No Work
Required
Bottom-Two Box
Complete Renovation
Required
Top-Two Box
Base = Total Respondents(807)
Q3. Please rate the condition of your current primary residence when you moved in using the scale below.
Q18. To the best of your knowledge, before you purchased your current primary home, was it…?
Q20. How long was the home vacant before you purchased it?
Source: Statistical Tables 28, 44, and 46; Banner 1 Weighted
Average Vacancy
3.6 Months
Base = Existing Home (726)
Base = New Home Or Vacant Existing Home (231)
Source: HIRI Recent Home Buyer Study

29. Move-In Readiness
Q3. Please rate the condition of your current primary residence when you moved in using the scale below.
Q18. To the best of your knowledge, before you purchased your current primary home, was it…?
Q20. How long was the home vacant before you purchased it?
Source: Statistical Tables 28, 44, and 46; Banner 1 Weighted
Source: HIRI Recent Home Buyer Study

30. Projects and home age
Home age can be an indicator of what types of projects are done by homeowners. More foundational/repair like replacing windows or rewiring electrical are done in older homes that have shown degradation.
Project
Years
Added a bathroom
23.4
Replaced the siding on your entire home
32.9
Re-wired an electrical system, installed a home automation system, safety/security products or energy management products
39.1
Remodeled your kitchen or parts of kitchen
36.4
Built / added room (other than a bathroom) or garage onto your home
32.2
Remodeled a room (other than a bathroom) in your home or garage for different use
35.6
Replaced the roof over your entire home or garage
39.8
Replaced or refinished flooring
34.6
Remodeled a bathroom
36.0
Replaced or added window(s)
43.0
Painted the exterior of your home or garage
38.0
Built a patio, deck or porch
30.3
Repaired, replaced or added plumbing fixtures
40.5
Planted a garden or landscaped your property
38.4
Painted an interior room or area
37.2
Made garage appearance / organization improvements (other than cleaning)
31.2
Made outside front entrance appearance improvements (e.g. doors, facades, lights, windows, hardware)
35.8
Added / replaced insulation (more than minor gap fill) in your attic, floors, or walls
42.9
Stained or sealed a deck
32.8
Source: HIRI Project Decision Study 2015