Despite an economy in a deepening recession, plummeting housing values, tight credit and rising foreclosure rates and unemployment, the country may be on the cusp of a new housing mini-boom – or rather, a ‘mini-housing’ boom. Of course we first need to stabilize the economy and create millions of new jobs rebuilding our nation’s energy and public transportation infrastructure, but that’s an issue for another discussion.
State of US Housing Stock
Consumers, when they are once again able to afford a new home, are likely to embrace a new generation of homes that are smaller, sustainable, modular and less costly to own and maintain. Researchers at MIT’s Department of Architecture House_n project foresee the next generation of homes as "a center for proactive healthcare, distributed energy production, commerce and learning."
Join me after the jump for the state of the industry and some truly innovative eco-home designs....
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