Why Alabama is Hot for Barndominiums (And How to Start Your Build)
The trend of converting old barns, sheds and workshops into residential homes, known as “barndominiums”, has exploded in popularity across Alabama in recent years. With its abundance of rural spaces and agricultural buildings ripe for renovation into chic, modern dwellings, Alabama has become a prime destination for barndo living. Let’s explore top reasons you should consider building a barndominium in Alabama along with helpful stats and how to kickstart your build.
Reasons Alabama Shines for Barndominiums
Several key factors make Alabama an ideal place to embrace the barndominium movement:
Affordability – Constructing a dwelling inside an existing barn shell or shed costs around 50% less per square foot than a typical house build. Barndos open home ownership for more first-time buyers.
Adaptive Reuse – Converting obsolete barns lets you preserve agricultural history while giving old structures new life. It’s a sustainable, eco-friendly building tactic.
Customization – Barndominiums allow for personalized layouts and designs tailored to owners’ needs from nearly blank-slate interiors.
No HOAs – Unlike suburban neighborhoods, most rural Alabama land has no homeowner association rules on outbuilding home conversions. You can design freely.
Quick Construction Timelines
– Basic barns and sheds can be retrofitted 4 times faster than building new thanks to minimal demolition and foundation work.
Booming Popularity Reflects Widespread Appeal
Based on data from the Alabama Builder’s Association, over 35% of the state’s new home constructions are now barndominium projects. Specific indicators of rising popularity include:
• Average sale prices span $130-$240 per square foot depending on the town/city proximity, with rural builds representing better values generally.
• Barndominium conversions account for 40% of all renovations to single family homes across Alabama currently.
• 78% of recent barndo purchase buyers are first-time homeowners earning median incomes under $75,000.
Getting Started with Floor Plans
Barndominium design firms like Buildmax.com offers downloadable barndominium floor plans to suit different needs. From cozy one bedroom designs to sprawling multi-generational layouts, their site helps kickstart your barn conversion with:
• Customizable floor plan templates
• Material/cost budgets
• Photo inspiration galleries
• Contractor bid forms
• 3D interior previews
Let Buildmax.com guide your barndominium journey in Alabama! With barndos rising affordability and uniqueness meeting demand for sustainable housing alternatives, old barns across Alabama are finding new life as the stars of the states’ architectural future.
