With housing inventory falling and lumber prices rising, the use of 3D-printing in construction has the potential to transform the real estate industry.
SQ4D, a New York-based company, claims that its 1,400-square-foot, 3D-printed home will be the first of its kind to be permitted and listed for sale in the United States. Asking $299,999, the three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence is located in Riverhead and hit the MLS about a month ago. It will sit on a quarter of an acre of land and includes a two-and-a-half car garage.
Renderings depict an open floorplan with vaulted ceilings, wood floors, light blue cabinetry, large windows and marble-look countertops. The home’s exterior would boast a covered front porch, accents of wood siding, and lush landscaping.
While the single-story home has yet to be printed, it will be constructed using concrete and come complete with a 50-year warranty. SQ4D says their 3D-printing technology is three times faster than traditional construction methods and reduces overall costs by up to 70 percent.
“At $299,999, this home is priced 50% below the cost of comparable newly-constructed homes in Riverhead, NY and represents a major step towards addressing the affordable housing crisis plaguing Long Island,” said Stephen King of Realty Connect, the Zillow Premier agent who holds the listing.
Last year, SQ4D built the world’s largest permitted 3D-printed home, which encompasses 1,900 square feet and required just 48 hours of printing time. The company is in the process of patenting its Autonomous Robotic Construction System (ARCS) technology, an oversized 3D printer that fabricates each wall layer by layer.
As few as three laborers are needed during the printing phase, but tradespeople are brought in afterward to take care of the plumbing, electrical and any other finishing touches. 34 Millbrook Lane’s Zillow listing has amassed nearly 160,000 views and has received multiple offers from interested buyers, according to Kirk Andersen, director of operations at SQ4D.
While the company intends to stay local for now, it hopes to expand to other markets in states like Florida and California.
