Housing trends come and go. Mortgage rates rise and fall. Brick, stucco or siding is in or out. Tastes change from ultra-modern to faux Georgian to Cape Cod and back again. But one thing has remained constant for decades. In spite of the fact that North American families are getting smaller and smaller, houses have been getting bigger ... and bigger ... and BIGGER. Today everyone aspires to own a seven-bathroom McMonster house, right? Not so!

A quickly growing number of hip, successful, enlightened home buyers are opting out of BIG for all sorts of good reasons: "We'd rather put our money into living our dream than being slaves to a mega-mortgage"; "I just lock my condo door and take off on vacation, security's barely an issue"; "Our condo consumes much less energy which is better for the planet and saves us a bundle every month"; "Instead of filling endless rooms with mediocre stuff we were able to buy quality items and decorate exactly as we pleased"; "It's freeing"; "Shared space means shared venture"; "It's way easier to clean!"

SMALL IS THE NEW BIG.

The smaller footprint of a condominium calls for smarter use of space than a sprawling house plan, which explains why many of the hottest design trends are coming out of multiple-dwelling units. An intelligent, well-conceived plan is a triumph of style over size. It uses space more efficiently by focusing on important areas and eliminating non-essential ones and by creating multi-use rooms. Creativity and resourcefulness know no limits.

And because it costs less to build a smaller living space, you may be able to afford to be more creative with upgrades to kitchens, bathrooms, finishes and extras. You can individualize your home with the floors, wall colours, window coverings and appliances you really want. You can even consider high end furnishings with the money you save by not having to decorate superfluous rooms and spaces. In other words, you can start living the life you envision for yourself right away, rather than making do now and saving your preferences for down the road.

But you could also choose to strip away the bells and whistles and simply move into an affordable, space-efficient and intelligently designed home. Or pick any style and price point in between. It's your home, your decision.

Living in a compact home also reflects your personal values. We know that the demand for oversized, resource-gobbling, energy-hungry houses is unsustainable. Your choice makes the statement that you wish to do your part to help create a healthier environment.

Now let's dispel another myth. 'Multiple-dwelling' no long means high-density downtown living. More and more people are choosing the condominium lifestyle in serene, beautiful suburban locations.

Who knew that a smaller space could mean a bigger life? Forward-thinkers, that's who. They're enjoying the benefits of home ownership without the expense and complications of maintaining a house. Their home is a refuge, a place to relax, to entertain, to live their dreams. Hmm, I think I want some of that.