What’s in store for the 2010 homebuilding industry? According to Richard J. Dalton, president and CEO of Wellington Homes and a 30-year homebuilding industry veteran, the 2010 housing market will see many changes including more streamlined home designs, more open floor plans, and an increase in demand for new housing as the foreclosure and short sale markets dwindle.

According to a recent press release from the company, Dalton said builders are listening to buyers and creating homes that appeal to their desires. To provide these homes at lower costs, builders are beginning to streamline the designs to have simplified roof lines, functional layouts, and same sized windows throughout the home – all of which pass the cost savings along to the buyer. By simplifying the home’s design, builders are able to construct the homes faster and keep costs down while still including high-end items in the home like granite countertops and luxury bathrooms.

Dalton also predicts that the industry will see a continued absorption of foreclosures and short-sale inventory, which means an increase in demand for new housing. These predictions are backed by the latest statistics from Florida Realtors, which claim new home sales in Northeast Florida are up nearly 49 percent from the same time last year and pending sales were up 59 percent. More than 38 percent of the closed sales during this time were foreclosures or short sales.

We are excited to see how Dalton’s predictions play out in the year ahead. Do you have any thoughts of your own for the 2010 homebuilding industry? Let us know your thoughts below!�