What is Multi-Family Construction?

With the cost of housing spiraling out of control, more and more families are forced to get creative when it comes to finding a place to call home. Apartment buildings are a great option for single people and couples without children, but they being to lose their appeal as families grow, becoming cramped, crowded, and noisy. Still, the idea of one building housing multiple dwellings makes sense, especially in densely populated areas like Vancouver.

Enter the multi-family home. You can think of them as apartments, but for families. They are usually larger and are laid out differently. While apartments tend to be stacked one on top of the other, multi-family homes are usually designed more like large houses with separate entrances for each family. The layout typically gives the family more space including yard space which is more than they would find in an apartment, condo, or townhouse.

It seems as though multi-family construction is a trend that’s here to stay. Now, let’s take a look at some of the trends that are emerging in multi-family construction.

1. Technology

Many homes being built these days include comprehensive technology that’s proven useful for family life. Multi-family construction is no exception. Many newer multi-family homes include designated pick-up and drop-off areas for rides shares as well as charging stations for electric cars and artificial intelligence inside the home.

However, contractors are not the ones setting this specific trend. Rather, they are meeting the demands of the consumer. Many first-time homeowners are looking for spaces that include smart home features such as smart locks, voice technology, and other sensors. This not only contributes to a sense of security in the home (smart home technology has made a huge impact on unauthorized building access) but it’s also a huge help for busy parents, helping to alleviate some of the pressure by making the tiny, simplest tasks that build up over the day much more efficient and easier.

2. Sustainable Construction

We’re all doing what we can to offset climate change and for first-time homebuyers that means shopping around for a green-initiative friendly home. Contractors and architects have been making more of an effort to use as many sustainably sourced materials as they can for years now to appeal to trend-setting home buyers. However, with climate change at the forefront of everyone’s mind now more than ever before, what was simply a trend a few years ago has become a full-fledged demand in the housing market. People want homes that are built from sustainable materials and are designed to minimize their carbon footprint. The multi-family home trend may have just as much to do with environmental sustainability as it does with economic reasons.

3. Amenities Galore

One thing apartment buildings have going for them that single dwelling homes don’t is access to amenities like gyms, saunas, games rooms, and libraries. Builders of multi-family homes are recognizing this and incorporating useful amenities into their construction design to meet families where they want to be. Not only does this appeal to families with young kids and pets, but it also encourages a sense of community for the many families that live in such a home.

With the rising cost of housing increasing with less and less city land on which to build becoming more and more scarce, single families and first-time homeowners are being quickly pushed out of the market. Thanks to the innovative designs of multi-family construction, becoming a homeowner isn’t so may possibly not be out of reach after all.