New homes are generally found in developments outside town. Homeowners who have bought into an early phase in a development can expect to contend with dust and construction sights and sounds as the remaining phases are being built. Landscaping may be skimpy or nonexistent. Layout Old homes were not built with our electronics-crazed families in mind. Entertaining was more formal in times past.
Architects now design homes for informal living.
While most old homes lacked insulation in outside walls and attics, the tight homes built today insulate against high heating and cooling costs. And air conditioning has evolved from large, loud, watt guzzlers to smaller, quieter, less-expensive systems. With growth rings spaced far apart, the wood is inherently weaker and more prone to rot. Before the 1980s, commercially available wood was harvested from old-growth forests, which produced dense and durable lumber. Still, new homes often benefit from new technology in building and designing.