Housing Growth in Southern Utah
Meeting the Demands of Families that Work, Learn, and Play at Home
The year 2020 has been unprecedented in many ways. There is no question that the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of our lives. From remote working and eLearning to quarantining, Americans’ choices in housing locations and features have dramatically changed.
With more people leaving big cities and seeking larger homes in suburban and rural areas, Southern Utah is experiencing steady growth in single- and multi-family construction. There is little doubt that a strong economy, beautiful surroundings, warmer weather, active lifestyle opportunities, and overall quality of life all contribute to residential growth in the area. Local home building associations see an increased demand for larger family homes, specifically including office workspaces and large family recreation rooms. These amenity demands match the reality of a family that now works, learns, and plays at home.
With growth comes challenges. One challenge is how to balance the demand for building materials with the higher material pricing, and even material shortages, brought on by the pandemic. Ryan Talbot with Iron County’s Home Builder’s Association shared, “Our challenge will be to help keep costs down as we move ahead. There will be more multi-family housing to facilitate our affordable housing issue, while the custom homes continue to be built.” With an increased focus on promoting housing solutions to meet these needs, home builders are evolving to meet modified consumer demands.
Mari Krashowetz, Executive Director at the Southern Utah Home Builder’s Association, points out, “We are optimistic about the future. We provide resources to handle issues related to the pandemic. And with the building industry being very busy right now meeting market demand, we are positive we will get through these challenging times by working together. This is a wonderful place to work and live and we are optimistic that Southern Utah will continue to grow.”
While many uncertainties lie ahead for residential building, one thing is certain: Southern Utah will continue to be a place where many will seek respite, both for vacation and residency. Builders in the area are optimistic that this residential growth will continue despite the pandemic.
As we look forward, we’re confident our communities will only become stronger as we continue to adapt to this extraordinary change to our lives.
