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The Next Hot Housing Markets in the U.S.

Housing markets are heating up in unexpected corners of the country—and we are meeting the moment. Colorado Springs, Miami, and Richmond are just a few cities leading the way in 2025, thanks to strong demand, broad buyer interest, and promising returns for investors. Each city offers a distinct opportunity, and with our versatile pre-engineered building kits, it’s easier than ever to build the right structure in the right market! If you’re dreaming of a fresh start and a new home, horse barn, or vacation property to go with it, here’s where we’re predicting to see some serious growth in the next year or so.

Colorado Springs, Colorado

 

City skyline at sunset with tall buildings and offices illuminated, set against a colorful sky with pink and blue clouds, and trees and smaller houses in the foreground.

Ranked No. 1 on Realtor.com’s Top Markets of 2025 list, Colorado Springs is projected to see a 27.1% year-over-year increase in existing home sales and a 12.7% rise in median sale prices. The city’s diverse range of appeal for both residents and investors is supported by its scenic beauty, outdoor recreational opportunities, and a growing tech sector.

Best Property Types for Colorado Springs

Horse Barns | Horse barns are perfect for the landscape of Colorado Springs, as well as the equestrian community prevalent in the region.
Barndominiums | Combining living spaces with functional areas, including horse barns, is great for those looking for a blend of comfort and utility.
Cabins | Our customizable cabins make suitable vacation homes or rentals, especially given the city’s proximity to natural attractions.

Market Considerations

Despite optimistic forecasts, the market has shown signs of stabilization. As of May 2025, the median home price remained flat at $490,000 compared to the previous year, and homes are taking longer to sell, averaging 49 days on the market. This shift indicates a move towards a buyer’s market, offering more negotiation power to purchasers. Additionally, elevated mortgage rates and economic uncertainties could temper the rapid growth previously experienced, putting cash buyers and eager investors in a favorable position to snap up hidden gems in the city. 

Miami, Florida

 

Aerial view of a marina filled with yachts and boats next to tall modern buildings, palm trees, and turquoise water under a bright blue sky in a coastal city.

Miami continues to be a top destination for real estate investment in 2025, predominantly due to the city’s vibrant lifestyle, international appeal, and strong economic growth. Forecasts suggest a 6.5% increase in median home prices, with single-family homes potentially seeing up to a 9.7% rise.

Best Property Types for Miami

Modern homes | Suitable for urban and suburban areas, our modern homes are ideal for buyers seeking luxury living with a blend of rustic charm and contemporary design.
Barndominiums | These designs offer versatile spaces that combine living and workspace, appealing to entrepreneurs and artists.
Event Venues | With Miami ranking among the top U.S. destinations for weddings, investing in event spaces offers high earning potential.

Market Considerations

Florida may be one of the most popular destinations for U.S. home buyers, but it isn’t without some downsides. Miami buyers, in particular, can expect to face challenges like rising insurance premiums due to hurricane exposure, elevated HOA fees, and increasing property taxes. These factors can affect affordability and should be carefully considered before investing in properties in the region.

Richmond, Virginia

 

City skyline at dusk with tall modern buildings, a railroad bridge, and river surrounded by trees reflecting the sky with scattered clouds and soft, warm lighting.

Richmond’s housing market has remained robust throughout 2025, with a 9% year-over-year increase in median home prices, reaching approximately $390,380. With the city’s historical charm, urban feel, and affordability, it’s no mystery why Richmond continues to be an appealing location to a wide range of buyers.

Best Property Types for Richmond

Farmhouses | Rural and suburban communities around Richmond are ideal for farmhouse-style residences that blend traditional aesthetics with modern amenities.
Cabins | These are great for weekend getaways or vacation rentals in nearby natural areas like Pocahontas State Park or the James River corridor.
Horse Barns | Equestrian culture is prominent in Virginia, and horse properties are a natural fit for larger parcels surrounding Richmond.

Market Considerations

While Richmond’s market is growing rapidly, the pace is expected to slow compared to previous years. Increased inventory and new construction may provide more options for buyers, but could also lead to longer selling times for existing homes.

Conclusion

The real estate landscape this year is all about location, lifestyle, and long-term value. A horse barn in Colorado Springs taps into the region’s strong equestrian culture. In Miami, barndominiums offer flexible, design-forward spaces that suit both living and working needs, and Richmond’s rural vibes call for farmhouse-style homes that blend charm with functionality.

Interested in learning more? Give us a call at (888) 975-2057 or request a quote today. Whatever your vision may be for a custom home, horse barn, or vacation rental, we’re here to make it a reality.

Wine Not? Build Your Dream Winery With DC

Picture this: You’ve purchased an agricultural gem in the heart of wine country, where Zinfandel, Grenache, and Syrah vines stretch across rolling green acres. You’ve got the setting, the foundation, and the story—but now it’s time to create a space that not only supports your tasting room and production facility but also brings your brand vision to life.

At DC Structures, we specialize in crafting custom commercial spaces for winemakers and vineyard owners nationwide—from rustic barns in Wisconsin to modern timber-frame wineries in Oregon. Over the years, we’ve designed dozens of successful winery buildings, with everything from barrel storage and bottling areas to climate-controlled cellars custom-tailored to meet each client’s exact needs.

When you partner with us, we’ll begin by exploring your vision and discussing key details like guest capacity, production workflow, and site conditions. From there, our team uses advanced 3D modeling software to bring your tasting room and production space to life—complete with your chosen materials, ideal layout, and signature architectural features.

Clusters of ripe, dark purple grapes hang from a vine in the foreground, with a rustic wooden building and clear blue sky blurred in the background. The setting appears to be a vineyard.

With over a decade of experience in designing wineries and tasting rooms, we understand how to create buildings that are visually stunning, engineered for the demands of a working vineyard, and wow guests from floor to ceiling. Whatever you imagine for your winery venture, we’re here to make it a reality—and then some.

Give us a call at (888) 975-2057 or request a quote today. Together, let’s start building the next great winery on your beautiful land.

Backyard Studio Ideas: Home Office, Gym, or Guest House?

Many of us view our homes as an extension of ourselves, with unique features and finishes that reflect our personalities, lifestyles, and tastes. But the same can be true for our backyard spaces and additions, too!

With a backyard studio or accessory dwelling unit (ADU), you can add another layer of purpose and possibility to your property, creating extra space to explore your passions, grow your business, or keep loved ones close.

From A-frame cabin designs to two-story garage homes, we offer a wide array of plans you can use as the foundation for your detached office, gym, or guest house. And if nothing quite fits your vision, that’s no problem—our design team can customize any structure or create something wholly unique that matches your needs to a T!

At DC Structures, we’re all about making your dream space a reality, whatever that looks like for you. Whether it’s an indoor basketball court, an ATV storage barn, a backyard hangout for friends and family, or a simple guest suite, we’re here to bring it to life.

A cozy, rustic living and dining area with wood-paneled vaulted ceilings, a wooden dining table and chairs, armchairs, large windows, and a framed portrait on the wall. Natural light fills the space.

Ready to explore ideas for your ADU? Call us today at (888) 975-2057 or request a digital catalog to start designing a backyard space that goes beyond expectations.

9 Creative Ways to Personalize Your Barndominium

When it comes to designing your dream barndominium with DC Structures, we’re firm believers that more personality is always better. We champion our clients to make every detail, whether it’s your front door, ceiling beams, or that secret bookshelf-turned-doorway, feel like you. We’re all about blending form and function to create spaces so custom and full of character, your guests will never mistake your home for anyone else’s.

From built-in bunk beds that steal the spotlight to staircases bold enough to deserve their own zip code, we’ve done it all—and then some. These nine ideas are just a taste of how we can help bring your one-of-a-kind vision to life.


1. Create a Personalized Work Space That Inspires You

 

A rustic office with a wooden desk, brown armchair, open shelving with decor, and large interior windows overlooking a loft with exposed wood beams and railings. Warm lighting and natural wood give the space a cozy feel.

 

Regardless of whether you work from home, run your own business, or work from the office five days a week, everyone deserves an office where they feel inspired to get the job done when they need to.  


2. Deck Out Your Deck

 

A covered wooden patio with wicker furniture, a fire pit table, and a grill. The ceiling has exposed beams, recessed lighting, and a large ceiling fan. Surrounded by trees and natural scenery.

 

Like this stunning second-floor deck, we love designing outdoor spaces that embody the unique personality of the client without sacrificing functionality. From BBQs and outdoor stoves to fire pits and enough seating to host your family (and your family’s family), you really can have it all!


3. Incorporate Creative & Mystical Accent Pieces

 

A large, round, wooden door with intricate carvings resembling a Hobbit-style entrance is set in a dark wall, flanked by patterned wallpaper and rustic wooden flooring.

 

Knock, knock! Who’s there? It’s just us, but we wouldn’t blame you for assuming it was a small man on a quest to destroy the One Ring!

Some clients opt for classic fixtures and accent pieces, and others opt for ones that shout their personality across a football field. Whichever you prefer, we have the ability to source even the most unique pieces that will bring your vision to life.


4. Keep Your Hobbies, Horses, & Home Under One Roof

 

A large, modern barn with a metal roof and cupolas sits behind a white fence, surrounded by trees and greenery under a blue sky. A dirt road leads up to the structure, and the area appears well-maintained.

It’s a barn! It’s a house! It’s a… both?!

If you want to live with your horses but can’t convince your spouse to let them sleep in your room, we’ve got the next best thing: Add horse stables adjacent or below your living space!

This addition is a highly requested customization, and one that complements the traditional heavy timber kits like the Oakridge and Columbia aesthetic quite well.


5. Introduce Your Statement Staircase to the Outdoors

 

A rustic, two-story wooden barndominium with large windows and a deck supported by wooden beams sits on a rocky, landscaped slope surrounded by greenery. The DC Structures logo is in the bottom left corner.

Who said statement staircases had to be reserved for posh indoor foyers? Exterior staircases lend both character and functionality to your home, making them a great addition for any barndominium.


6. Add Builder-Grade & Custom-Made Built-Ins

 

From bunk beds and cabinets to walk-in closets and bars, we have the expertise to design and build stunning bespoke built-ins that will leave your guests in awe of your space.


7. Make Contrast a Key Consideration

 

You’re paying for the best-of-the-best timber, why not show it off with high-contrast beams?

We love the look of dark timber against light colored walls; it’s a design style that’s been around for thousands of years in many parts of Europe and Asia. Trends come and go, but this style remains timeless! 


8. Let There Be Natural Light

 

We love working with clients to source and design their kit around their exact window aesthetic. Whether it’s the windows that come standard with your kit or an artisan-crafted stained glass window from Italy, we can do–and have done–it all.


9. Design Unique Spaces for a Unique You

 

We listen and we don’t judge. Whatever you need your barndominium for, we allow unlimited customizations to make it perfectly tailored to your personal needs.


At the end of the day, your home should be as bold, functional, and full of personality as you are—and with one of our barndominiums, there’s no limit to how creative you can get. Whether you’re dreaming of cozy built-ins, an envy-worthy deck, or a place where your horses get VIP treatment, we’re here to help you make it happen.

So go ahead—embrace the weird, the wonderful, and the wildly unique. Because around here, “custom” doesn’t just mean choosing paint colors. It means building a space that tells your story, one unforgettable detail at a time!

Ready to get started on your own barndominium project? Get the ball rolling by getting to know our Barndominium kits or requesting a free quote!

What Makes This Wildfire Preparedness Day Different

Each year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) marks Wildfire Preparedness Day on the first Saturday of May—a nationwide call to action that encourages individuals, families, and communities to reduce wildfire risks in their area. The goal is simple: if each of us takes even one step toward preparedness, we can build safer, more resilient communities together.

This year, that message feels more urgent than ever.

A two-story wooden cabin with a metal roof sits on a grassy lot, surrounded by trees and mountains under a clear blue sky. A picnic table is on the right, and the home has large windows and a side concrete path.

As a West Coast-based designer and producer of pre-engineered building kits, we’re no strangers to wildfire season—or the heartbreak it leaves behind. Over the years, we’ve helped clients rebuild homes, businesses, and entire communities lost to wildfires. And while we’re proud to support their recovery, we also mourn the history, memories, and sense of place that can never be replaced.

In the wake of devastating events like the Eaton and Pacific Palisades Fires, the mission behind Wildfire Preparedness Day hits especially close to home. It’s had many of us asking: How can we do better for our clients? And more broadly: What can we all do—as homeowners, neighbors, and business owners—to protect the places we love amid a growing wildfire threat?

SoWhat Can We Do?

The good news is that protecting our homes and communities doesn’t require drastic action. It starts with a willingness to make small, meaningful changes—and to keep showing up, year after year.

For homeowners especially, one of the most effective ways to reduce fire risk is by creating defensible space around your home. As the NFPA suggests, this could mean:

  • Replacing wood chips with gravel
  • Trimming back overgrown vegetation
  • Upgrading outdoor features with fire-resistant materials

These changes may seem small, but they can make a big difference when it matters most.

Aerial view of a large, dark-roofed building with green-highlighted edges, surrounded by trees, grass, parking areas, and walkways, photographed on a sunny day.

Looking to make a broader impact without breaking the bank? You could also consider volunteering with organizations like the Red Cross, YMCA, or your local disaster relief group. Even a few hours of your time this weekend can make a lasting difference for those still recovering from wildfire damage.

The Need Is Real—And Ongoing

Thousands of people remain displaced due to wildfires in Los Angeles and beyond. Any action we take—no matter how small—is a step toward rebuilding lives, restoring communities, and preventing future loss.

For more resources on protecting your property and neighborhood, visit NFPA.org to learn about best practices, home hardening, and volunteer opportunities in your area.

Rebuilding After a Wildfire? We’re Here to Help

If you or someone you love has been affected by wildfire damage, you don’t have to face the road to recovery alone.

Visit our Fire Rebuilding Services page to explore:

  • Fire-resistant design strategies
  • Recommended building materials
  • Pre-engineered kits tailored for recovery and long-term resilience

We’re honored to support homeowners rebuilding stronger, safer, and smarter—because no one should lose their home to wildfire twice.