APRIL IS NEW HOMES MONTH
Home Buyers Reveal What They Want in Their Next Home
John Toth, President
North Coast Building Industry Association (NCBIA) ncbia.com
As the spring home buying season kicks into full gear, the home building industry celebrates New Homes Month in April. If you’re looking for a new home, you’re probably considering the essential features on your must-have list. Do you wonder if other home buyers are looking for the same things?
A recent survey from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reveals what consumers look for when house hunting. The survey asked first-time buyers and existing homeowners about the features they consider essential in their next home.
The survey shows that now, more than ever, future homeowners want to have a connection to the outdoors and ample space in the kitchen. The must-haves for the outside of a home include exterior lighting, garage storage, front porch, patio, and landscaping. Popular interior must-haves included a walk-in pantry and table space in the kitchen. Three kitchen features stood out in the survey: NAHB noted that in the past ten years, built-in kitchen seating, outdoor kitchens and quartz or engineered stone for kitchen countertops have grown in popularity.
Buyers also look to technology to ensure safety and comfort while at home. Among the top tech features sought out are security cameras, wired home security systems, programmable thermostats, video doorbells, multizone HVAC systems and energy management systems.
In addition, the survey found that buyers are shifting their preferences on home size and overall design preferences. The average size of a new home continues to inch smaller — dropping from 2,479 square feet in 2022 to 2,411 square feet in 2023, the smallest average size in 13 years. The change in square footage represents home builders’ efforts to match buyer preferences for smaller homes.
To learn more about the latest features available in new homes, contact the NCBIA. For more information on the benefits of a new home and local home builders, contact the NCBIA. Plus, Our 24/7 Virtual Parade of Homes!!! It allows you to view some of our builders’ new homes and communities on your mobile device or computer. You can also see our remodelers. We know time is our greatest asset, and via our NCBIA Virtual Parade of Homes, we save you time looking for a new home or a community that fits your lifestyle.
We are your local not-for-profit trade association representing member companies involved in all aspects of home building, remodeling, and other services available to help you in the future and provide more information on the above topic. As you can see, you use an NCBIA member for your protection. If you are unsure that your contractor is a member of the NCBIA or you are looking for a list of NCBIA members, you can visit our website at www.ncbia.com or call 440-934-1090. We also have a job posting board (under the Industry tab).
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