Housing Watch

MARCH HOUSING WATCH

Demand for Housing Remains at Record Levels as Utah’s Population Swells

Lower housing inventory levels led to fewer home sales in the first quarter, but demand for homes remains at record highs. Across the fivecounty Wasatch Front area, there were 7,703 overall home sales (all housing types) in the first quarter, down 3 percent from 7,978 sales in the first quarter of 2020. In March, home sales (all housing types) in Salt Lake County increased to 1,381 sales, up 5 percent year over year. Pending sales (under contract) climbed to 1,591, up 20 percent from March 2020. “More new housing is needed to meet overwhelming buyer demand,” said Matt Ulrich, president of the Salt Lake Board of Realtors®. “In April, the Census Bureau reported that Utah was the fastest-growing state since 2010. More than 500,000 people were added to our population over the past decade. Going forward, we expect those numbers to accelerate.” In Salt Lake County, single-family sales were down 1 percent year over year in the first quarter. Tooele County sales were down 4 percent. Utah County saw sales fall 7 percent. Davis singlefamily sales dropped 16 percent. Weber County witnessed the biggest decline at 18 percent. While single-family sales fell, sales of condominiums, townhomes, and twin homes increased in two of the five Wasatch Front counties. In Salt Lake County, multifamily sales were up 12 percent. In Weber County, sales of condos and townhomes soared to 199 units, up 52 percent. Home prices continued to rise rapidly. In Salt Lake County, the median single-family home price in the first quarter climbed to $468,000, up 17 percent ($68,000) from a year earlier when the median price was $400,000. Utah County’s median single-family home price was the second highest on the Wasatch Front at $450,000, up 20 percent from the first quarter of 2020. Davis County posted a median price of $430,000, up 21 percent year over year. Tooele County’s median price increased to $360,000, up 18 percent. Weber County’s median price rose to $340,000, up 23 percent from a year ago. The overall median home price (all housing types) of the five-county Wasatch Front area was $395,000, up 17 percent from $339,000 a year ago. Wasatch Front homes were on the market a median of five days in the first quarter, down from 28 days in the first quarter of 2020. Cash sales of homes on the Wasatch Front increased to 15 percent in the first quarter, up from 10 percent in the same period in 2020.

Spa-Inspired Bathrooms (continued from page 26) have, said Tim Bakke, director of publishing at The Plan Collection, an online home and design company. An alternative is to use one oversized version that resembles a trough with two faucets, said Norman. For mirrors, Swarz may incorporate a thin bar of light on one side or all around rather than use separate lights above; or she may frame the mirrors like artwork. Because of bathroom chemicals, Rosenbloom prefers quartz to granite and marble for a countertop.

5. More lighting.

The brighter the better these days, particularly when the source is natural light. Some of the Parkline Chicago condominiums have floor to ceiling windows that offer sweeping city and lake views. Skylights or transom windows are another option, said Lynn Schrage, marketing manager, online bathroom design services, for Kohler Co. For artificial light, LEDs are showing up, often in a warm 2700 Kelvin temperature, said Ramsey. Most lighting plans feature multiple layers with recessed cans—including two in a shower or over a tub. One seemingly universal choice is putting all lamps (bulbs) on dimmers to create different experiences.

6. Larger tiles and bolder accents.

While the most popular palette remains neutral and spa-like—which helps avoid dating a room, Cook said, the specific hues have shifted to warmer greiges, a combination of gray and beige, said Gena Kirk, vice president of the Corporate Studio at Los Angeles-based KB Home. Colorful accent colors have emerged, such as navy and emerald green, particularly along an accent wall, said Ramsey. The biggest change in color is touches of black in hardware, lighting, fixtures, or shower enclosures. “It offers a dramatic and expensive looking accent,” said Kirk. Ramsey has also mixed black with different metals. But homeowners should be aware that the black trend may have a short shelf life, Strang cautioned. Many designers also incorporate larger format tiles as big as 24 inches by 24 inches as another accent. They offer the plus of being able to be cleaned easily since they require less grout. New hexagonalshaped tiles have become popular, though Ramsey thinks this look, too, already is fading.

7. Smart toilets and bidets.

Several trends are gaining momentum: installing a toilet from the wall rather than the floor, concealing the tank in the wall, and adding a commodes cubicle or closet, said Schrage. Wall mounted designs leave more floor space and make it easier to clean underneath. At some luxurious developments such as Mesa Ridge in Las Vegas, Ramsey said two toilets are commonplace. Due to the larger boomer population, higher or comfort-level ADA toilets have gained interest. The paper toilet shortage at the start of the pandemic also led to greater interest in bidets. Some companies like TOTO USA and Kohler have designed seats that can fit onto an existing toilet, and the latest technology offers features to dry, deodorize, heat the seat and water, have the water pulsate or oscillate, spray a bowl clean after every use, conserve water, and open and close a lid automatically.

8. Speakers and other smart features.

The trend for including a TV in the bathroom for news and entertainment is fading as interest turns to smart speakers for playing music and podcasts. Touchless faucets, which have become commonplace in commercial settings, are starting to gain popularity in homes, too, said Schrage.

9. Touches of nature.

It’s become well known that nature offers a soothing touch and a sense of healthfulness. Brunstrum suggests bringing in a live plant or two and maybe using a botanical print wallpaper that can hold up to water and moisture. Wallpaper is usually an accent in one area, such as a toilet room. A final must have is a good ventilation system to pare humidity, Schrage said.

5 Quick Tips for a New, Hipper Shower

1. Smart shower devices let each user set the temperature they desire. 2. Steam features add to the spa-like experience, said Swarz. 3. Some homeowners want the shower and tub to be part of an open “wet room,” a Japanese design concept. 4. A heated shower floor provides added luxury, said Rosenbloom.

5. Despite the larger “super” shower trend (especially when homeowners forego the tub), some are paring their showers to 48 inches wide by 60 inches deep to retain heat, said Ramsey.

Barbara Ballinger is a freelance writer and the author of several books on real estate, architecture, and remodeling, including The Kitchen Bible: Designing the Perfect Culinary Space (Images Publishing, 2014). Reprinted from Realtor® Magazine Online, April 2021, with permission of the National Association of Realtors®, Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.

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