Florida Realtors®: 3D Printed Homes Spark Buyers’ Interest
ORLANDO, Fla. – Press print for a home? More consumers are interested in the possibility. Of more than 3,000 consumers in a survey, 66% would consider living in a 3D printed home, according to realtor.com.
Millennials are even keener on the idea, at 75%. Still, the survey found that 33% want to wait and see how 3D printed homes change over time.
3D printed homes appear to have a number of advantages including greater affordability and better energy efficiency – and over the past year, they’ve shown better resistance to natural disasters. 3D printed homes also don’t take as much time to build compared to traditional new homes.
“Over the past decade, as the homebuilding industry focused mainly on the upper end of housing, expecting younger generations to favor renting, the price of construction has pushed new homes out of reach for many first-time homebuyers,” says George Ratiu, senior economist at realtor.com. “With the largest generation in U.S. history embracing homeownership and the pandemic accelerating the move toward suburban markets, new home construction plays a pivotal role in meeting the growing demand.”
3D home technology continues to evolve, and an increase in 3D-printed homes can help reduce the cost of new construction and increase the number of available homes at a more affordable price point, Ratiu says.
Survey results – 3D-printed home option
One in three (30%) respondents believe that 3D printed homes will eventually replace traditional methods of homebuilding, and more media outlets started covering the technique over the past year. Most (63%) of the people surveyed said they’ve heard about it.
The biggest factors that would persuade consumers to purchase a 3D printed home include:
Lower cost: 54%
More energy efficient: 51%
More resistant to natural disasters: 42%
Faster to build: 41%
More customizable: 39%
Produces less waste than traditional building methods: 32%
For those a bit unsure of the new technology, the main factors holding them back are:
36% want to wait and see how the technology pans out over time
22% prefer the aesthetics of a traditional home
22% believe it won’t last as long
18% don’t want their home to look exactly like their neighbors’ homes
Florida Realtors® serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research, and legislative representation to more than 200,000 members in 51 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Newsroom website is available at floridarealtors.org/newsroom