What features are most in demand from new-home buyers? NAHB sought the answers in its latest “What Home Buyers Want” report. Among the top and/or fastest-growing in-demand features were laundry rooms, patios, and home security.
The Top Features Home Buyers Want
In the What Home Buyers Want study, buyers were given a list of more than 200 home and community features and asked to rate them as “essential,” “desirable,” “indifferent,” or “do not want.”
According to Eye on Housing, of all the features in the study, there were 13 that ranked “essential” by at least 80% of respondents:
- Patio (86%)
- Laundry room (86%)
- Energy Star-rated windows (83%)
- Exterior lighting (82%)
- Ceiling fan (81%)
- Garage storage (81%)
- Front porch (81%)
- Hardwood (81%)
- Full bath on main level (80%)
- Energy Star appliances (80%)
- Walk-in pantry (80%)
- Landscaping (80%)
- Table space in kitchen (80%)
In addition, there were a handful of features that made tremendous gains in popularity over the past decade. All were in the area of technology, including security cameras (climbing 36 percentage points in 12 years), wired home security systems (35 percentage points), and programmable thermostats (31 percentage points).
What Homebuyers Want in Exteriors
When it comes to exterior design styles, Eye on Housing found no national consensus in the study. “At best, a plurality of 34% would prefer to purchase a ‘traditional’ home (rooted in historic styles), while a smaller 26% would rather buy a ‘contemporary’ home (clean lines, sloped roofs, expansive windows),” Rose Quint reported. “Far smaller shares of 17% and 12% of buyers, respectively, would choose a ‘modern’ home (bold, boxy, flat roofs) or a ‘transitional’ home (contemporary design with traditional cues).
Delving further into in-demand exterior features, consider the results of AIA’s quarterly Home Design Trends survey. In its Q4 2023 edition, examining Neighborhood and Community Design, the survey reported that “low maintenance/durability” continue to be the most popular feature, with 59% of architects reporting increasing interest. Unlike the NAHB study, the AIA survey found contemporary styling to be most common, with 51% of architects reporting increasing interest, down just 1 percentage point from 2022.
To learn more about what’s in demand, the full “What Homebuyers Want” report is available for purchase here.
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