Front porch revival hints at market shift
A little over a week ago USA Today reported that two-thirds of new houses on the market in 2011 included porches. That is more than an indication that New Urbanism, which helped to bring about the front porch revival, is having an impact on the mainstream market. "The rise in the number of new homes with porches hints at a shift in the way Americans want to live: in smaller houses and dense neighborhoods that promote walking and social interaction," says USA Today. Houses without garages or carports also are on the rise — 13 percent of the market in 2011 up from 8 percent of the market in 2004. Some analysts link that trend to a rising desire to live near public transportation.
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