FEET FIRST HOUSES

There is a part of the market that is rarely discussed in print. Let’s call them Feet First Houses. Recently, while at the open house of an efficient, updated Cape, some great, long time friends stopped by. Frankly, it was great to see them, but I was surprised, because they live in a very special house. My first thought: maybe they are previewing for their children. After we caught up on family and with life, we discussed the reason for their visit. Although not old, they are looking a “feet first house.” A humorous, albeit bizarre, conversation ensued. They both wanted to have one final transition from their feet first house into the grave.

Several other experienced Realtors each smiled when asked about feet first houses. Most concurred that it had not been described that way, but they had seen an increase in the number of ‘mature’ seniors who wanted that last house. Many people will in fact end up in assisted living homes or nursing homes, but almost everyone prefers to be in their own home, be it a single family, multifamily, condominium, or mobile home. It is interesting and noteworthy, that as we age and as our needs become more basic, we place a higher value on our home. Home is more than shelter. Home is that place where some of the best of human experience occurs: love, family, friends, celebration, sorrow, happiness, connecting, contemplating (praying). laughing, and crying. It is a ‘place’ where the seasons of life are written, and sometimes noted by height marks on the door jam. It is the place, hopefully of safe harbour, from life’s storms. It is the place where one’s priorities are often most crisp.

While it may be callous to talk about feet first houses, they are a declaration of the importance that we each place on whatever it is that we call home, be it our first, our second, our largest, our best, or our ‘feet first’one.

If you want to find a first house, a feet first house or something in between, check out www.phippsrealty.com

Repurposed Real Estate

Ingenuity and creativity are the higher cognitive powers of human beings. In other words:” thinking out of the box.” While one may want to discuss the wisdom of turning swords in to plowshares in the post cold war world, but that is not today’s topic.

When you look around at real estate it is impressive how creative people can be. On the corner of Division Road and Rector Streets in East Greenwich, an architect ‘repurposed a classic, steeple church into a great single family home:



In Rhode Island one of the most impressive cases of repurposing involves the conversion of Nineteenth Century mills into condominiums. Whether Hamilton Mills in North Kingstown, Royal Mills in West Warwick, it is a clever use of what would otherwise be obsolete. The space in mills is grand, with high ceilings. Complimented by stone walls and massive timbers, these residences have character and substance. Moreover, many are located on rivers and or the bay. It is noteworthy that our primal desire to be near water never leaves us. It has been the tradition in Rhode Island for centuries.






There are numerous other examples around the area of re-purposed properties:
the gas station that is now a coffee shop, the fire station that is now townhouses; and the mill pump house that is now offices. Recognizing the advantage of ‘saving’ obsolete properties and giving them purpose, some uses are simply not prudent. Some towns and cities have been very creative and far thinking in their approach to these properties. In a State with a long rich architectural heritage, it is encouraging to see repurposing, rather than flat-world big box store and big box houses. It is generally more expensive to re-purpose, restore property rather than level it and start from scratch. But the end product has more character and uniqueness than most new construction. It is possible that the swamp Yankee attitude that refuses to let anything go to waste is producing some great re-purposed properties.

For additional information log onto www.phippsrealty.com

Patterns on the Horizon: Upcoming Trends in Housing

Patterns on the Horizon:

Trends in housing are somewhat difficult to predict. Yes, the need for shelter is absolute. Everyone needs a place to stay which leads to universal demand. But what is adequate or desirable shelter? For example, when relocation buyers come to Rhode Island they were often told that a four bedroom, two and a half colonial is the most popular house in Rhode Island. It is size of and type of house that the average Rhode Islander would buy. The problem with that advice is that the average Rhode Islander cannot afford to buy it. Additionally, the probable buyer is more likely to be a relocation buyer rather than an average Rhode Islander. The advice is also self serving: the majority of houses in any given suburban community are colonials. No there is nothing wrong with four bedroom colonials. They are great function floor plans and they do in fact sell and re-sell well. They have served Rhode Island families for four centuries very well.

Patterns are influenced by choices. In Rhode Island, the range of choice is more limited than many other areas of the country. Hopefully, the ideas from other part of the country will cross pollinate here. The choices available influence the trends. Housing trends changes move slowly.

What trends might do we expect to see in the next ten years? Here are our Seven:


1. Quality over quantity.
2. Intuitive Smart Homes
3. Media Centric Homes
4. Function over formal
5. Carbon Neutral, “GREEN.” houses: Super Energy Efficient
6. Multi-generation/extended houses
7. High Personalized new construction

Quality over quantity:

There is an obvious difference between a Scion and a Ferrari. They are both cars. They are however compared on quality, not quantity. That has not been the case in real estate. Baby Boomers in particular were focused on the cost per square foot. It was a crude measuring stick that did not account for high end quality. A large box house tended to sell more quickly because of its perceived high value on a cost per square foot basis. That has changed and will change even more. People now want the best quality for the dollar, not the most square footage. Features and superior materials will be the most important element of value. Bigger is not necessarily better.




Intuitive Smart Homes:

One best change will be the move to smart houses. Digital management centers will become the norm. Imagine walking into your home at the end of the day and with voice commands adjusting the temperature, opening blinds, turning on the computer or entertainment center, or even drawing a bath. This technology will allow you to control the systems in your house remotely from a computer, pda, cell phone or smart phone.
Imagine being able to watch what your kids are doing when you are out to dinner. All of theses systems will be standard. What will be innovative will be ability for the house to ‘know’ that you have walked in. It will adjust the house to your personal preferences. What kind of music do you want to hear? What temperature to you like? What rooms are you likely to use? Imagine the home gym ‘knowing’ what work out you need to do today. Imagine having a digital conference family reunion from your home.

Media Centric Homes:

One thing the thirty some things and twenty some things have taught us: media should be experienced in the broad and grand sense. Home theatres will replace living and family rooms. The home theatre will be the keeping room of old. Family recollections will be of the DVD we saw and discussed. In some ways this room will become more important than the dining room, particularly for family interchange. Additionally, monitors will be located throughout the house. Security, communication and entertainment will be engaged from anywhere in the house and without manual equipment. Think it, say it, and it will be.

Function over Formal:

Among the more noticeable changes will be the move from ‘formal houses and formal rooms’ to functionalism. Every space in the house will have use. The duality of family space and formal space is ending. The space is simply too valuable to use for special holidays and guests. How many times were you in your parents’ formal living room?
Those days are now past and will be a distant memory in ten years. Given the cost to build, given the taxes, given the energy requirements, the shoe size of the house will fit the foot and the Velcro will be snugly fastened.


Carbon Neutral, “Green” Houses: Super Energy Efficient Houses

Each of us produces a carbon foot print. How much energy do we use? As Americans our energy foot prints are XX-Large. Over the next ten years, we will witness and participate in a major reduction in our energy shoe size. Many specific behaviors can produce major reductions in energy: energy saving light bulbs, high efficiency appliances; alternative fuel heating systems, tightly insulated houses, high efficiency windows, etc. Some things are fashionable for a year or two; this trend, however, will become ‘normal.’ Long term we will see smaller houses. Wind power and solar power houses will also become so common that they will not even illicit comment. Motivation will range from: environmental concerns, national security-patriotism, and family economics, to name a few.


Multi-generational and Extended Family Homes:

As the price of housing has increased and affordability has become more difficult, many families have purchased larger house together. We believe this trend will continue. The single biggest constraint tends to be city /town zoning rules. Multi-generational families will want to stay in their neighborhood. The cities and towns will change to allow for this trend.


Highly Personalized New Construction

Today, cars, clothes and computers are all customized, made to a buyer’s specific requirements. This expectation is going to migrate to housing. Houses will be constructed more quickly and buyers will be more involved in the build out from its inception. 3 dimensional soft ware, today, can give the buyer a ‘virtual look at their house.’ Tomorrow the buyer will make these choices directly. The day of the colonial as the ‘best’ urban option is waning. The re-construction of many existing homes will also be high personalized. It will be done ‘your way.’

Some of these trends may seem obvious; they are exciting and just around the corner.

For additional information and links please log onto www.phippsrealty.com