by Jennie Crouch
My colleague Jack and I had the privilege to attend the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas last week, along with over 76,000 of our friends in the building industry. Below is a snapshot of our biggest takeaways from the event:
- Amenities are king.
No surprise here, amenities have long “sold” residential communities. In the coming year look for a continued focus on lifestyle-forward communities and for developers to invest more square footage and resources into establishing wow-worthy amenities.
- Everyone wants flexibility.
This was an ongoing theme across all segments of the IBS attendee audience – 55+, multifamily, custom builders. Residents are clamoring for spaces that are adaptable, multi-purpose and that leave them in the driver seat of their interior environments (Incidentally – this is what my session was on! We’ll share some clips and highlights in a later post).
- Quality over quantity.
In terms of single-family homes and units, after a push for larger homes in the post-COVID wake, residents are less concerned about sizing and more concerned about quality. Look for more “lux” material options and materials with a story (sustainability, high-value, etc.).
- “The Future of Medicine is in the Home.”
The quote above from Dr. Douglas Wood of the Mayo Clinic embodies another common theme – wellness. How can our homes not just support our health but improve it? Everything from wellness-focuses amenities – such as saunas and meditation rooms – to nature-based color palettes and health-safe building materials were subjects of discussion.
- Builders are hopeful.
The industry outlook is guardedly optimistic. Several sessions emphasized that many builders anticipate starting more new projects than in recent years. Home affordability and mobility has been stifled in the past couple years due to high interest rates. Industry experts expect this to ease in the latter half of 2024, but not completely correct itself in the near future.
- More pickleball.
I couldn’t wrap up this post without mentioning possibly the most over-heard word at the conference – “pickleball.” Residents can’t twist those ankles fast enough! 😊
Jennie Crouch is the Vice President of SR/A
