ess formality, more comfort. That’s what homebuyers are looking for today. Each year, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) surveys consumers to determine what they want in a new home. The results provide interesting insight into homebuying trends. If you’re looking to sell your home, the report offers valuable information about which amenities buyers value most. Here are some highlights of what today’s homebuyers want.

Size Matters

Despite the fact that lots are getting smaller, homes continue to get bigger. The average square footage of a home in 2003 is a whopping 127 percent greater than it was in 1950—despite the fact that families today are smaller. Americans like their space. In 1980, 54 percent of us were willing to buy a smaller house to save money. By 2003, only 28 percent would sacrifice size for savings.

What’s taking up all that space? Buyers of new homes want large kitchens adjacent to spacious family rooms. Soaring cathedral ceilings are popular. Forty-four percent of today’s homebuyers prefer a home with four or more bedrooms. A two-car garage is a must for 46 percent of buyers, and another 29 percent want room for three vehicles. For homebuyers today, bigger is better.

Casual Wins Out Over Formal

Americans are opting for an increasingly casual lifestyle and their preferences in homes reflect that trend.

The traditional American living room may soon be a thing of the past. In the three years from 2000 to 2003, the percentage of consumers willing to buy a new home without a formal living room increased from 34 percent to 40 percent. The informal family room or great room is quickly replacing the living room as the gathering place for family and friends. While a formal dining room is still a “must have” for most buyers, its popularity has also declined. 

Everyone Ends Up in the Kitchen

The kitchen has always been a social hub of any home, and its boundaries continue to blur. Homebuyers prefer a kitchen/family room arrangement and opt for a layout that’s completely open. One-third of today’s consumers choose the totally open arrangement, compared with just 9 percent in 1980. Which amenities are most popular? Here’s the breakout of the most desirable kitchen features:

          Walk-in pantry         85%

          Island work area       77%

          Solid-surface countertops    65%

          Built-in microwave     61%

          Extra-deep counters  47%

The average new home today has 2< baths—in 1950, only 1 percent of new homes could make that claim. Not only does the number of bathrooms continue to increase, they’ve become larger and more luxurious as well. For many consumers, their master bath serves as a mini-spa. Luxury homes often include saunas, steam rooms, heated floors and towel racks, walk-in showers and multi-media entertainment centers. These are the amenities homebuyers want most in a bathroom:

          Linen closet   91%

          Exhaust fan    87%

          Whirlpool tub  63%

          Ceramic wall tiles      58%

          Private toilet compartments  7%

          Dressing/make-up area        4%

Bedrooms, Bedrooms

and More Bedrooms

In 2003, 89 percent of new homes had more than two bedrooms—and 37 percent had four or more. Since families are smaller, “extra” bedrooms are often converted into home offices or dens, both highly desirable features for new homebuyers. Locating the washer and dryer close by continues to become more popular, with 26 percent preferring a location near the bedrooms, 26 percent near the kitchen, 23 percent in the basement and 10 percent in the garage.

Most consumers prefer to utilize the space in their home for just one large master bedroom suite, with the additional bedrooms being standard-sized. Like bathrooms, master suites have become more luxurious, rivaling upscale hotel rooms for their amenities. Trends in high-end homes include extravagances such as the morning bar—a built-in cabinet that includes a small refrigerator, sink and counter space for an espresso machine and microwave.