More home buyers seek three-car garages

“The home-building industry is definitely seeing a trend toward the three-car garage,” said Jerry Howard, executive vice president and CEO of the National Association of Home Builders, in a news release.

“Especially in areas where houses do not traditionally have basements, the three-car garage is becoming a must-have in new homes,” Howard added.

Census bureau statistics confirm the trend toward three-car garages in all four census areas, although the Midwest and the West are in the lead. When the Census Bureau started tracking three-car or larger garages in 1992, they accounted for 20 percent of the new homes in the West. In 2004, 31 percent of new homes in the West had three-car or larger garages. In the Midwest, 16 percent had three-car or larger garages in 1992, and 32 percent had them in 2004.

For most buyers, the appeal of the three-car garage is storage space. NAHB studies of consumer preferences consistently show that extra storage space ranks high on most consumers’ wish lists.

Builders also are finding that home buyers prefer 8-foot by 10-foot garage doors rather than the standard 7-foot by 9-foot doors to accommodate SUVs and larger vehicles that are increasing in popularity.

As garages have increased in size, they’ve also become more sophisticated, Howard said.

“Consumers find elaborate and extensive built-in storage systems, work areas, utility sinks and other amenities very appealing,” he added. “They also are tending to view the garage as more of an extension of the house, and some buyers are even heating and cooling the space for comfort and year-round use.”

Larger garages also allow builders to offer a second-floor “bonus room” that can be used for any of a number of purposes.

“These bonus rooms are a growing trend in upscale homes,” Howard said. “From a playroom for the kids to a home office, exercise room, loft, extra bedroom, an in-law or nanny suite, quarters for a ‘boomerang’ child, and even extra storage.”

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