Eye On Housing
NAHB regularly conducts national polls of American adults and home buyers in order to understand new trends and preferences in the housing market. This is the fourth in a series of posts highlighting poll results, as presented during the 2018 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, FL. See previous posts on tiny homes, driverless cars, and time searching for a home.
A recent poll asked prospective first-time and second-time+ home buyers which features they considered essential in their next home. More than 40% of first-time home buyers think the list in blue below is essential, starting with a living room, a laundry room, a dining room, garage storage, and a walk-in closet in the master bedroom. Other features essential to many first-time buyers include a front porch, a 2-car garage, and a double sink in the kitchen.
The list of essential items is a bit longer among second-time+ buyers. It includes many of the same features wanted by first-time buyers, plus a few more: a patio, table space for eating in the kitchen, hardwood floors in the main level, energy-star appliances, and granite countertops in the kitchen.
Interestingly, the top two features are identical for both groups, although in reverse order: the laundry room and the living room.
When you asked the question “Living Room”, did you have a description? Is the “Living Room” in your question one main place to gather, or is it a second place after a Family Room/Great Room?
No description was given. In future polls, however, this option will be listed as ‘separate living room.’
You should ask how often that they use the tub in the Master Bathroom. We used ours 3 times total in 11-1/2 years. We left it out of the Master Bath in our new home and went with a double shower instead. Much happier now.
People say that a bath in the Master Bathroom is a must-have and realtors will tell you that it is a must, but few actually use it. That investment is a wasted investment.
Rose:
Our home show is the weekend of March 23rd and 24th.
If you share a copy of the revised question survey with me, then I’ll share the test market results with you.
Dennis Sweeney
We had a jet tub in last place… used it less than 10 times in 24yrs.
This place was new…we ripped out the tub size walk in shower and put in a 5′ x 5′ walk in shower with yiled in 5ft bench. We have a lot of overnight guests a zero use tub. Even kids want a shower.
Most of the list is eye candy…We look for the structure being energy efficient…windows, doors, insullation, fibet optic cable, furnace n A/C efficiency. Etc.