Working From Home in the Suburbs is a Growing Trend Fueling New Home Sales

The pandemic forced more than half of American white-collar workers to do their jobs from home, and it turns out that most liked it. So now, the work-from-home trend is fueling more migration to the suburbs for a new lifestyle in a larger house.

Most workers don't want to go back to the office. According to a recent USA Today poll, as an example of the data on this topic, three-quarters of workers report wanting to continue to work from home or spend only a portion of the week in the office. And one-third report they would consider quitting if forced to resume their commutes. In addition, nearly 4 in 10 say they value at-home employment more than a pay raise.

The good news is there is data to support the concept of employees staying home to work, with research showing worker productivity was up in 2020. For example, a Harvard Business School study showed at-home employees put in, on average, nearly 50 minutes of additional work per day. And, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, productivity in the private nonfarm sector rose in 45 states last year.

Flexible schedules and no commutes are popular benefits of working from home

The most obvious benefits of working from home include flexibility in work schedules and not commuting to an office. Flexible schedules mean being able to pick up the kids from school, run errands, or exercise -- all before 5 p.m. (provided your work gets completed at some point, of course). And there is no comparison between a 45-minute commute in rush hour traffic to a 45-second commute from your kitchen to your home office (not to mention saving money on transportation expenses).

Location independence allows workers to live where they want

Another benefit of working from home that many people realize is called "location independence," which means workers get to choose where to live. Some have total location independence and can live in any part of the country. In contrast, others have distance limitations and must stay within a specific state.

Regardless of the type of location independence, this allows workers to move away from congested metropolitan areas with higher costs of living, higher rents, and higher property taxes to quieter suburban areas that often have lower costs of everything. And this is extremely attractive to many people.

Suburban communities in the Tampa Bay area benefit from the trend

Many Tampa Bay area suburbs are growing, with workers migrating to communities that have a small-town feel combined with easy access to Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg. Award-winning homebuilder William Ryan Homes Tampa has new home communities in a number of these suburbs to meet the demand for high-quality homes at a good price in the right location.

For example, in the two fast-growing suburbs of Parrish and Palmetto in Manatee County, there are two William Ryan Homes' communities: Cross Creek and Tea Olive Terrace at the Fairways, respectively. All of the new houses in these communities can be designed with structural options to add a study, pocket office, flex room, or an extra bedroom, as well as smart home technology to accommodate both family entertainment and business videoconferences.

In Parrish, Cross Creek is less than two miles away from U.S. 301, I-75, I-275, the Sunshine Skyway, and the Fort Hamer Bridge – all of which provide easy access to Bradenton, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, and Tampa. The new homes have 4 bedrooms and 2 to 4 baths available in one- or two-story designs. Prices start in the mid-$400s for houses ranging in size from 2,549 to 3,800 square feet.

In Palmetto, the William Ryan Homes community of Tea Olive Terrace at the Fairways is less than three miles from I-75, which provides easy access to Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota. The new homes have 3 to 4 bedrooms and 2 to 4 baths, with a wide range in size from 1,516 to 3,270 square feet. Prices are coming soon.

Another popular Tampa Bay area suburb is the Pasco County town of Hudson, where William Ryan Homes Tampa has the new home community of Lakeside - just 30 miles from Clearwater, 45 miles from Tampa, and 40 miles from Tampa International Airport. New homes range from mid $200s to low $300s, with square footage from 1,516 to 3,270 in one- and two-story plans.

Schedule an Appointment to See a Model Home

To schedule an appointment to tour model homes, contact Maxine at 813-773-2989 or email her at mstull@wmryan.com. She can quickly schedule your visit and answer other questions you may have about William Ryan Homes Tampa.