Spring/Summer 1984, Vol 9, No 1

Abstract: One of the more practical approaches to making new single-family homes more affordable is to reduce their amount of interior square footage and amenities. This ‘downsizing’ process, observable since the late 1970s, is a result of certain shifts in the demographic and economic characteristics of the housing market. This article identifies the magnatude of this trend, and explains its underlying justifications, the factors that limit its acceleration, and the reasons why the current cycle may be fundamentally different from those of prior periods.