NAHB published research earlier this year on home buyer preferences called What Home Buyers Really Want1. Consumers were asked to rate how 19 technology features would influence their home purchase decision, if at all, using the following four-point scale: Do not want – not likely to buy a home with this design or feature. Indifferent – wouldn’t influence decision. Desirable – would be seriously influenced to purchase a home because this design or feature was included. Essential/Must have – unlikely to purchase a home without this design or feature Seventy-eight percent of home buyers rated a programmable thermostat as either essential/must have or desirable, followed by security cameras (76%), video doorbell (74%), and wireless home security system (70%).  Sixteen of the 19 technology features had at least 50% of home buyers rating them as essential or desirable. The top eight features reveal that home buyers are looking for technology that helps them achieve two main goals: Improve Energy Efficiency (programmable thermostat, multi-zone HVAC system, lighting control system, energy management system/display) AND Increase Safety (security cameras, video doorbell, wireless & wired home security system) Additionally, like the other areas of the home covered in the study, every question on technology features is tabulated by the buyer’s income, age, geography, race, household type, and the price they expect to pay for the home. These details can be very useful in particular cases. For example, the study discusses the five technology features that have the largest preference margins between the youngest and oldest buyers along with analyzing the prevalence of virtual tours by income and price point.  What Home Buyers Really Want, 2024 Edition sheds light on the housing preferences of the typical home buyer and is based on a national survey of more than 3,000 recent and prospective home buyers.  Every question in the survey’s extensive twelve-page questionnaire is tabulated by the buyer’s income, age, geography, race, household type, and price they expect to pay for the home. For readers interested in more detail on kitchens and baths, or other aspects of the home, the full study is available at BuilderBooks.com. Discover more from Eye On Housing Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

The latest NAHB study on home buyer preferences – What Home Buyers Really Want Study1 – asked consumers about the features and amenities they would want in a home, specifically regarding windows and exterior doors.  Respondents were asked to rate eight window and four exterior door features using the following four-point scale: Do not want – not likely to buy a home with this design or feature. Indifferent – wouldn’t influence decision. Desirable – would be seriously influenced to purchase a home because this design or feature was included. Essential/Must have – unlikely to purchase a home without this design or feature. Windows ENERGY STAR rated windows were rated essential or desirable by 83% of home buyers, followed by triple-pane insulating glass (77%) and low e-insulating glass (67%).  Since its introduction to the survey in 2007, ENERGY STAR rated windows have been wanted by at least 83% of home buyers (Figure 1).  Additionally, ENERGY STAR windows were ranked the third most wanted feature out of the 200+ options asked within the survey. Doors All four exterior door features were rated essential or desirable by a majority of home buyers ( >50%) with very little separating the highest (sliding patio doors at 64%) to the lowest (double main entry door at 58%) rated options.  Furthermore, all four exterior door features have increased in popularity compared to 2020, with double main entry door rising the most (10 percentage points) (Figure 2).  Additionally, like the other areas of the home covered in the study, every question on windows and doors is tabulated by the buyer’s income, age, geography, race, household type, and the price they expect to pay for the home.  These details can be very useful in particular cases.  For example, the study discusses the three window features that appeal to older buyers, as well as how preferences for hinged/French patio doors change by income level and home price.  What Home Buyers Really Want, 2024 Edition sheds light on the housing preferences of the typical home buyer and is based on a national survey of more than 3,000 recent and prospective home buyers.  Every question in the survey’s extensive twelve-page questionnaire is tabulated by the buyer’s income, age, geography, race, household type, and price they expect to pay for the home. For readers interested in more detail on kitchens and baths, or other aspects of the home, the full study is available at BuilderBooks.com. Discover more from Eye On Housing Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

In the most recent NAHB research on home buyer preferences, What Home Buyers Really Want Study1, consumers were asked to rate how 28 kitchen and 18 bathroom features would influence their home purchase decision, if at all, using the following four-point scale: Do not want – not likely to buy a home with this design or feature. Indifferent – wouldn’t influence decision. Desirable – would be seriously influenced to purchase a home because this design or feature was included. Essential/Must-have – unlikely to purchase a home without this design or feature. Kitchen Eighty percent of respondents rated a walk-in pantry and table space for eating as either essential/must-have or desirable, followed by a double sink (78%), drinking water filtration (75%), pull-out shelves and a central island (both at 74%), and a granite or natural stone countertop (73%).  Overall, home buyers want to have kitchens with lots of amenities: of the 28 kitchen features, 21 were essential or desirable to at least 50% of buyers.  A walk-in pantry has been at least tied for the top-rated kitchen feature in every iteration of the survey (Figure 1). Bathroom Similar to kitchens, home buyers are looking for bathrooms with lots of amenities, with 14 of the 18 features rated as either essential/must-have or desirable by 50% or more respondents.  The results show an emphasis on the primary bath, with the top three highest rated bathroom features being listed for this area: both a shower & tub (78%), a linen closet (76%), and a private toilet compartment (70%).  Both a shower stall & tub, as well as a linen closet, have been the top two rated bathroom features by home buyers in every iteration of the survey (Figure 2).  Like the other areas of the home covered in this study, every question on kitchens and bathrooms is tabulated by the buyer’s income, age, geography, race, household type, and the price they expect to pay for the home.  These details can be very useful in particular cases.  For example, the report discusses the three kitchen features that appeal differentially to buyers in the Millennial generation, as well as three bathroom features that are especially important to include in more expensive homes.  What Home Buyers Really Want, 2024 Edition sheds light on the housing preferences of the typical home buyer and is based on a national survey of more than 3,000 recent and prospective home buyers.  Every question in the survey’s extensive twelve-page questionnaire is tabulated by the buyer’s income, age, geography, race, household type, and price they expect to pay for the home. For readers interested in more detail on kitchens and baths, or other aspects of the home, the full study is available at BuilderBooks.com. Discover more from Eye On Housing Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.