Larger families, extended families, floor plans centered around the kitchen, big party areas inside and outside - those are just a few of the details builders should pay attention to as they build for the fastest-growing segment of the American home-buying public.
Henry Cisneros, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, was a favorite speaker at the Texas Association of Builders' Sunbelt Builders Show at the Gaylord Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, in September. He was one of several Latino leaders in the home building industry who participated in the annual industry show. Cisneros currently heads CityView Companies, community-building firms dedicated to producing workforce homes in American cities. "The Hispanic population in the United States spends more than any other country except Mexico and Spain and will account for a trillion dollars in GNP by 2010," Cisneros told builders Saturday morning.
Outlining the rapid growth of Latinos, Cisneros said the nation currently has 300 million residents and will grow to 410 million by 2050. Forty-four million of the total population is Latino, and this segment will be the fastest growing demographic in the nation. Anglos are expected to increase by only 18 million, African Americans by 25 million, Asians by 27 million and Latinos by an astounding 63 million.
"Hispanics have more workers per household, many of whom are self-employed, and constitute one of the fastest-growing new-business groups in the nation," he noted. He advised builders to pay close attention to their housing needs, since they will make up an overwhelming segment of buyers in the next decade. "Latinos want housing developments with a central plaza or park with cook-out facilities, because they love large gatherings and being outside with family and friends," he said. "These plazas should include basketball, soccer fields and playgrounds."
He continued: "Pastel colors are popular with Latinos, as well as craftsman-style architecture. They also need more bedrooms for their larger families - they are a very 'hosting' group and feel an obligation to house family members."
"These families need longer driveways for more vehicles to keep those vehicles off the street, thus the necessity of garages placed further back on the home site," Cisneros added. He advised builders to construct garage designs easy to convert, if needed, for the expanding family, with the idea to have the garage plumbing planned for at initial construction.
He described Latinos as a very social ethnic group, so homes that plan for a social lifestyle with an easy flow to the outdoors, the patio, the barbecue pit, an outdoor fireplace, etc., are best. "Schools are very important, and we can't afford to let our public schools deteriorate," he noted. "We need well-educated Hispanics for the future. The problem now is that our children's parents have never gone to college, so they don't understand the benefits and pass that message on to their kids. Often their children have to work to support the multi-generational families or to send money back to Mexico."
Cisneros said 88 percent of Hispanics describe the American Dream as "home ownership" - the largest group ever to answer that question with that answer. "They want to be Americans - that's why they are here. They want a better life for their children and the opportunity to own their own home," he concluded. His builder audience answered with a standing ovation - a clear answer that as an industry they want to help fulfill those dreams, a TAB spokesperson said.