The Houston new home outlook 2011 is looking brighter as more home buyers are turning toward building a Houston home. This may be the year when buyers get off the sidelines and join the residential housing market. And this may be the year when new home builders get down to the business of building a plethora of new Houston homes.

The Houston new home outlook 2011 is all about homeowners saying good-bye to the bells and whistles of a few years ago. Unlike two to three years ago, when you went big or you went home, today’s Houston homes are decidedly more restrained. It’s not all about the wow factor anymore; in fact, it is all about the family, and the family unit, and the importance of gathering together with friends and family and enjoying each other’s company.

It is no wonder, then, that the Houston new home outlook 2011 is about paring down and getting back to basics when it comes to Houston River Oaks real estate. Traditional is definitely in and over-the-top style and design is beginning to take a back seat to more refined styling, design and architecture.

Here are some of the trends you can expect in the Houston new home outlook 2011:

• Houston new homes are tumbling downward in terms of square footage. In fact, according to the National Association of Home Builders notes that homes fell from 2,277 square feet in 2007 to 2,135 square feet in 2009. Home buyers are now acutely aware that larger homes mean larger utility bills, and they just aren’t buying it anymore. Therefore, the Houston new home outlook 2011 will surely be a year of smaller home sizes.

• Even though home sizes are shrinking, home buyers are still looking for the amenities and features they’ve come to love in new homes. Expect master suites, large kitchens and open, flowing floor plans with larger, less formal, gathering spaces. You can also expect the Houston new home outlook 2011 to include high-end features, such as granite countertops, quality faucets and commercial-grade appliances.

• Many Houston Realtors have noted that traditional architecture and styling is taking over many Houston new homes for 2011. It is therefore more common to see home buyers requesting front porches on their new home. Front and side porches are now surging again in popularity; perhaps because many buyers are getting back to the basics, and that includes traditional architecture.

• It comes as no surprise that new home buyers are looking into sustainable, green living when building their Houston home. From builder materials, such as low-E windows and high-efficiency insulation to home features, such as recycled wood flooring and countertops, as well as Energy Star, energy efficient appliances.

• Single-level living is becoming more popular, largely due to the fact that many empty nesters are building new homes to better suit their scaled-down lifestyles. In addition, the single-level living concept is most often accommodating to seniors and their limited physical capabilities.