Homes

A home is a place we can call our own, where we can live and raise our families in peace and safety. Although every individual and family is unique, all seek a home that is safe, livable, and affordable. To accomplish these goals, homes must include sufficient space to meet the families’ needs, be well-constructed and built to last, within the buyers’ financial reach, and attractive. Reducing the cost of a home without sacrificing the quality of the home can be done by choosing efficient home plans, building in volume, and selecting experienced builders.




Simple design considerations add to the livability of the home without sacrificing affordability. Moving the entry to a more prominent streetwise position, recessing the garage and paying more attention to texture and detail on the front facade, positively transforms the home and the character of the neighborhood.
The Affordable Housing Design Advisor brings together experience and ideas from successful affordable housing projects all over the country, and the people who developed, designed and built them.

Strategies to Reduce Costs

 

Strategies to Add Value

  • Select Economical Home Plans - Select home plans that are economical to build.

  • Include Expansion Space - Select home plans that include unfinished expansion space.

  • Match Home With Lot Size - Select home plans that fit on modest-sized lots and can be placed to reduce infrastructure.

  • Build in Volume - Utilizing volume building to get a “quantity discount” that lowers the cost per home.

  • Use Value Engineering - Maximize the efficient use of materials and labor to reduce construction costs.

 

  • Create Curb Appeal - Select home plans the enhance the appearance of the home from the street.

  • Enhance Connections to Yard - Select home plans that maximize the connections between the home and the yard.

  • Integrate Mix of Housing Types - Include a range of home prices, sizes, styles, and colors to improve the overall appearance of the neighborhood.

  • Select Experienced Builders - Select builders who are knowledgeable about starter home development and use durable, high-quality methods and materials.