According to a recent survey conducted by one of the country’s largest homebuilders, Kaufman and Broad (NYSE:KBH), 73 percent of homebuyers indicated that getting the most square footage for the money was ‘very important’ or ‘essential’ when purchasing a home.

Homebuilders must be listening, as the average square footage of new homes has increased nearly 25 percent in the past 20 years to 2,190 square feet in 1998, up from 1,755 in 1978.

However, before buying the largest home you can afford, Linda Edwards, executive vice president of Kaufman and Broad’s Orange County division, advises new home buyers to consider the following:

Measure it up: Always bring a measuring tape with you when viewing houses along with a list of measurements for the furniture you own or plan to put in your new home. It doesn’t matter how much square footage a home has if your beloved, antique china cabinet won’t fit in the dining room.

Comparison shop: Look at lots of homes from different builders before making a decision. In each home that you like, take note of the total square footage along with the square footage of key rooms such as the master bedroom, family room and kitchen. Once you’ve narrowed down your home choices, you can use online tools such as the "Model Shopping Checklist" available at Kaufman and Broad’s Web site, www.kbhome.com. Here you can chart the square footage and features of each home to determine which is the best value.

Don’t forget the great outdoors: One factor that many buyers overlook is the value of the square footage outside of the house. While patios, decks, porches and balconies are not officially counted in total square footage (considered part of the total ‘lot size’), they can add valuable living space to a home, particularly in warmer climates where there is a longer season to enjoy the outdoors.

Consider rooms as well as square footage: Just because one home has more square footage than another doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best choice for your needs. If you have two children and want them both to have their own bedroom, a large house with only two bedrooms won’t be as good for you as a slightly smaller home with three bedrooms.

Floor plan: Make sure the floor plan is one that flows well and has space in the areas you need space. Check out the closets and pantries to make sure they will accommodate your needs. Also make sure there is enough work space in the kitchen.

Don’t be fooled by vertical space: A home may seem very spacious because of high ceilings and added vertical space. Don’t be deceived by this illusion. You don’t want to find that your furniture doesn’t fit in the room because there’s not quite as much floor space as you initially thought. Another factor to consider is that the added vertical space can increase the cost of heating and cooling a home without necessarily providing more living space.

"Don’t be embarrassed about taking detailed measurements to make sure the rooms are large enough and have all of the features to meet your lifestyle needs," said Edwards. "We know that purchasing a new home is a major decision and want to make sure that buyers are extremely comfortable with their selection before making the leap into homeownership."

For more assistance in the home buying process, check out the "Homebuying Tips’ section of Kaufman and Broad’s Web site at www.kbhome.com.

Kaufman and Broad Home Corporation is one of America’s premier homebuilders with operating divisions in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. Kaufman & Broad S.A., the Company’s majority owned subsidiary, is one of the largest homebuilders in France. In 1999, the Company delivered homes to 22,460 families in the U.S. and in France. It also operates a full service mortgage company for the convenience of its buyers. Founded in 1957, Kaufman and Broad is a Fortune 500 Company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "KBH".

For More Information Contact:
Kate Mulhearn
(310) 231-4015
kmulhearn@kbhome.com

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