What Buyers Do—and Do Not—Want

With the U.S. housing market finally picking back up, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) conducted a large study to pinpoint how recession may have influenced consumers' lifestyle preferences and home wish lists.  Released this month, the survey found that Americans desire:
  • Energy Star appliances above all else
  • energy-efficient laundry rooms
  • high-end amenities such as kitchens with double sinks, French doors, and whole-house technology
    kitchen
    Kitchen
What homeowners and buyers do not want, meanwhile, are:
  • elevators
  • golf course homes
  • laminate countertops
NAHB also determined that the outer suburbs are favored when it comes to home location, with just 8 percent of those queried citing a preference for living in a city center.  That is a departure from what those in the apartment sector believe: that recession and escalating gasoline prices are creating demand for urban lifestyles. "What Home Buyers Want," CNBC Europe (Feb 25, 2013) © Copyright Information Inc. 2013