Taking a quick glance at model homes and newly built houses in dozens of Charleston area neighborhoods, they undoubtedly vary by color, design, size, yards.

On second take, though, the properties in piney forests of Summerville to former Johns Island farmland hold similarly tailored styles: Charleston single homes, country designs, brick colonials, cozy bungalows, craftsman accents. No New England salt boxes or prairie homes here. Mediterranean villas, log cabins or modernistic styles are rare.

Now look more closely at the two-story traditional dwelling with double porches, the flexible ranch or the stucco condominiums or townhomes. Things have changed. Subtle on the surface, new design cues are distinct and serve as guideposts on the evolving attitudes in what people want in their residences.  

Changing styles 

Kelly Maloney, agent and Internet advisor for David Weekley Homes, thumbed through a few of the trends she's noticed locally.

On a broad basis, new-home buyers desire space and convenience. "Open concept is practically a requirement at this point," Maloney says. "Main-floor masters (bedrooms) are a sought-after feature across the board," she adds.

Sometimes the interests run along age lines. "Our baby boomer customers are looking to downsize and prefer a ranch or main floor master," Maloney points out. 

Once in awhile, one type of interior design gains stature while another dips in popularity. "Most of our floor plans include a study and/or bonus room, as customers are looking for those in their homes," she says. " Formal dining rooms are falling to the wayside; however, there are still some buyers who insist on that room, particularly our buyers that already own a formal dining table."

Newly popular perks can develop at the room level. In owner's retreat bathrooms, Maloney says, extended length walk-in showers with rain shower heads are taking precedence over a typical bathroom with a tub and shower. "The tub is usually in a secondary bedroom," she notes.

With all these variations, new homes locally can start at $100,000 or so for condos, $150,000 and up for townhomes and from around $200,000 to $800,000 for single-family homes. Custom residences list from the low six figures to close to $7 million, according to local builders and custom designers.

Maloney's insights come as the share of new homes sold in metro Charleston has inched upward in the past few years, according to figures from the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors.

Total home sales -- new and existing -- jumped to 17,720 in the Lowcountry last year from 14,253 in 2014. Of the total, 21.8 percent are new construction compared with 20.9 percent three years ago. Based on the percentages, residential construction rose from 2,979 homes in 2014 to 3,863 last year. Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties all showed new-home share increases in 2016 from a year earlier, with Berkeley leading the way at 30.5 percent.

Weathering Lowcountry elements

Builders, real estate agents and design professionals agree that experience counts in crafting homes the Charleston area, which can be vulnerable to weather threats such as flood and hurricanes.

"Whether it’s a modest starter home or a luxury second vacation home, there are issues that anyone building a new home should seriously consider," says Tommy Rae Manuel of Manuel Architecture. They typically revolve around energy efficiency and resiliency, he says.

"Only build what you really need," he says. "If you’re planning your forever home, give as much thought to how you’ll be living in the home toward the end as you would the early years," he says.

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A native of Swansea near Columbia whose father was a brick mason and carpenter, Manuel recommends designing and building air-tight homes to "allow better control of indoor air quality and help keep heating and cooling costs low."

He suggests boosting insulation beyond code, which "will improve the home's performance across temperature swings. Buyers then can install smaller heating, ventilation and air conditioning system with lower operating costs.

Houses also should be resilient, abler to adapt to changes and "to maintain or resume its usability after a natural disaster. In our region, homes have to endure hurricane-force winds, flooding,\ and earthquakes," says Manuel, who splits his time between Charleston and south Florida and also teaches a class at the University of Miami.

He recommends hipped roofs with a 30-degree slope tend to do better in high wind conditions that other roof types. "Keeping roof overhangs to 20 inches or less will also increase the chances that they won’t go flying during the next hurricane," Manuel says.

"Exterior walls of can be designed and built so they’re easily dried out in the event of water intrusion from a hurricane," he says. "This involves using rigid insulation on the exterior instead of filling the wall cavity with insulation and removable trim or strip of drywall at the top and bottom of the wall."

Another suggestion: "Elevating you home above flood levels is required in some areas, but with coastal regions facing sea-level rise, it’s probably wise to consider elevating your home even if you’re not required," according to Manuel, who studied architecture at Clemson and at Columbia University in New York.

Finally, homeowners should build to makes them comfortable, rather than plan for sale. "A thoughtful arrival and entry that you can experience every day is far more valuable than curb appeal," he says. "Over the long haul, if you are going to be in a house 30 years, you realize the real value." 

For more information and photos, go to www.postandcourier.com/business/real_estate/jim-parker.

Reach Jim Parker at 843-937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com.

New construction tips

- When pricing out materials and finishes, make sure your comparisons are apples to apples when considering cost.

- Look for a reputable builder with experience in the area.

- A good real estate agent can help you navigate the many choices, as can online research.

Source: Kelly Maloney, agent and Internet advisor for David Weekley Homes

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