One benefit of buying a home in the suburbs is that real estate can generally be more affordable there. But with the cost of gasoline soaring these days, that commute is looking much less attractive.

In response to the cash crunch, some builders are constructing homes with fully functioning home offices. Now you may be thinking, sure most homes already come with an office space, but this is actually quite innovative.

Live Work Builders has created The District at Uptown in Keller, TX, a suburb of Dallas-Ft. Worth. They describe the community as live/work executive residences. It's a combination of residential and employment space that is specifically designed for dual use. A typical buyer would be someone who wanted to establish or grow their existing business and who also desires the convenience and benefits of working from home.

Each office is pre-wired for high-speed internet and features custom built-in bookshelving and filing units. There's an independent, well-defined exterior entrance to the office so that a client can stop by comfortably. There's even exterior signage noting the business inside, and a dedicated parking space for customers. These offices are ideal for professional businesses like attorneys, counselors, web-designers, etc.

The architects of these semi-custom homes note that having a dedicated work space alleviates the time and cost associated with commutes, which can result in higher productivity during the work day. They also remind buyers of the tax benefit of business ownership and the convenience of having only one mortgage for your home and business.

With the direction gas prices are heading these days, this sounds like a trend that might be here to stay. To learn more about this builder and the live/work concept visit www.LiveWorkBuilders.com.

Published: August 19, 2008

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Tara Darby is a head anchor for Realty Times. She began her career in television soon after her reign as Miss Alabama USA 2004. She also landed in the Top Ten lineup at The Miss USA Pageant and participated in a special Miss USA Fear Factor on NBC. Obviously fear was not a factor for her since she won the competition! Later, she appeared as a special guest on Larry King Live to share her experiences. After that the media opportunities grew and so did her love of the camera, and thus her career began. Since then she has hosted several shows including two national series, and a new home builder show.