Once upon a time, potential homeowners in New Zealand set their sights on a quarter-acre section – a slice of land that would easily hold a multi-bedroom house, two-car garage and a spacious backyard. But those days appear to be coming to an end: there’s now a growing trend towards smaller properties that are closer to amenities and made to a much higher standard than older homes.

So why are smaller properties such a big deal? Read on to find out the reasons that are driving Kiwis to settle for less space.

A sign of the times

Downsizing and progress have been synonymous for a while now (look at the trajectory of laptops and mobile phones). But things don’t just get smaller – they also get smarter. The same applies to how we build homes and optimise space.

People are realising that they don’t need that much room to live comfortably. Recent trends towards minimalistic living have seen Kiwis declutter their homes of superfluous material goods. And the natural next step is to do away with unnecessary space.

New Zealand isn’t unique in this movement. There have been architectural renaissances in tightly packed cities around the world, all of which have seen a huge rise in small, cleverly designed, high-quality living spaces.

Generational drivers

Believe it or not, this is something younger and older generations see eye-to-eye on. But the reasons that drive them towards living with less space differ.

According to Stats NZ, over half of all Kiwi homeowners believe that their current homes need renovations or repairs. Essentially, the bigger your house, the more maintenance it requires. Older generations – especially empty nesters – find smaller houses appealing because they’re fed up with all the upkeep that comes with a big house (and the big backyard behind it). Plus, heating is more affordable in smaller houses – especially if they’re made of high-quality materials, as they’re far better insulated than older, larger properties.

Younger generations are at the mercy of circumstance. Getting on the property ladder is hard: land is scarce and housing prices generally haven’t been accessible to young Kiwis. So, compromising on space gives you a leg up.

But there are other factors involved: young people are choosing to live differently to their predecessors: they’re focusing on careers and are having smaller families. Sustainability is a key consideration – living closer to amenities and to work gives you the option to forego driving and opt to take public transport, cycle or walk (the rise in city traffic also plays a part here, as people are, understandably, sick of being stuck in rush-hour jams).

Smaller houses, bigger benefits

The dream of a big house and backyard is waning. Jen Baird, CEO of REINZ, has already noticed a rise in demand for apartments and townhouses. A lot of people in Auckland – both first-time buyers and downsizers – are seeing the advantages that smaller houses offer.

Both Labour and National have supported new housing rules that loosen the resource consent requirements for three homes of up to three storeys on a single site – meaning that rather than your typical large urban home, there’ll be far more smaller houses made available over the next few years.

These new builds are more efficient, and are designed to reflect modern ways of living. The materials they’re made of are generally much higher quality than most existing properties, and are cheaper to cool and heat. Less space also means less cleaning and more effective ventilation.

Interested in homes that are smarter with space?  Find out more about Williams Corporation developments here.