The Problem With Homes in 2025: Big, Expensive, and Missing the Point
There’s something strange happening in the housing market.
In 2025, new homes are bigger than ever. Builders boast open-concept floor plans, two-story foyers, four-car garages, and smart everything.
But when you really walk through them—what’s often missing?
Thoughtful storage
Functional flow
Sensible maintenance planning
Energy efficiency beyond the bare minimum
Human-scale design that feels like home
We’ve entered an era of overbuilt, under thought housing—where the square footage impresses, but the soul is missing.
The Symptoms Are Everywhere
It starts on the blueprint.
Developers prioritize curb appeal and marketability over livability:
4,000 sq ft homes with a single, poorly ventilated HVAC zone
Kitchens with 12-foot islands but no real pantry
“Smart homes” that can talk to your fridge but can’t manage a basic plumbing issue
Garage-to-living-room transitions with zero mudroom or storage
The result? Homes that are expensive to build, costly to maintain, and exhausting to live in.
What's Driving It?
Status-first mindsets
Spec builder shortcuts
Homebuyers unfamiliar with long-term maintenance
An obsession with features over flow
And in some cases? A complete disconnect between the people designing homes and the people who live in them.
What’s the Alternative?
Designing with intention—not indulgence.
We need homes that prioritize:
Efficient layout over raw size
Quality materials over trendy finishes
Low-maintenance systems over short-lived tech
Airflow, daylight, and acoustics over cosmetic appeal
Spaces that invite living, not just showing off
The homes of the future shouldn’t just be smart.
They should be wise.
What Do You Think?
Are we building homes that reflect how we want to live—or just how we want to appear?
Hit reply or leave a comment. I want to hear what you’re seeing in your neighborhood, your work, or your own home search.
Let’s talk about building better, not just bigger.