The trend in new homes is to have the latest technology throughout the house. Hot technology can be pricey and it can require a great deal of space. For example, a home theatre with comfy seating and a giant 75-inch plasma television probably won't work in a small home. An article in the Orlando Sentinel lists some of the other high-tech trends including: advanced lighting with whole-house lighting controls, whole-house automation, music-player docking, induction cooktops and two-in-one washer/dryers.
"In the homes of the future, it's all going to be about technology," says Gopal Ahluwalia of the National Association of Home Builders in Washington, D.C.
He stresses that high-tech items mostly are being installed in upscale housing today. While the buyer of an average-size house doesn't want to spend more than 3 percent to 4 percent of the purchase price on technology, purchasers of million-dollar homes don't worry about tech costs, Ahluwalia says.
House size is a determining factor. "In a small house, there's no room for a separate media room with a 64-inch TV," he says.
One reason for the increased popularity of technology in the future will be its acceptance by younger homeowners -- Generations X and Y, born after 1965, Ahluwalia says. They are more at ease with technology and have more use for it, he says.
Homeowners are certainly ready for high-tech homes. The popularity of tech gadgets like the iPod, iPhone, Wii and BlackBerry shows that people are willing to embrace exciting new technologies. However, people are going to be much more demanding that the technology really works if it is being installed in their homes. If you are new to some of the home technologies available this section on Electronic House magazine's website gives you an idea of some of the high-tech home features available. Realtor.org offers a field guide to high-tech homes. Forbes also has an article featuring seven high-tech homes.
