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- The NAHB asked 3,000 recent and prospective buyers what they want most in newly built homes.
- Newly built homes may be shrinking, but buyers aren’t sacrificing comfort and quality.
- Buyers said that a great outdoor living space and smart technology are must-haves.
Americans buying newly built homes are working with a lot less space, but that doesn’t mean their expectations are any lower. In fact, it means they’re looking to maximize every square foot.
At the 2025 National Association of Real Estate Editors conference held earlier this month in New Orleans, Rose Quint, assistant vice president for survey research at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), shared during a panel discussion what today’s homebuyers value most.
Drawing from NAHB’s 2024 What Home Buyers Really Want report, a national survey of more than 3,000 recent and prospective homebuyers, Quint revealed that buyers are prioritizing spacious kitchens, ample outdoor space, and smart technology.
“High home prices and elevated mortgage rates have made homebuyers keenly aware of what features add the most value to their daily lives,” Quint said. “Buyers have determined that investing in the kitchen, in a patio, and home security features enhances the livability of a home.”
According to NAHB’s survey, here are four trends shaping homebuying — from a bigger kitchen that focuses on efficiency to smart thermostats that allow homeowners to control their home’s temperature remotely.
1. Buyers want a bigger kitchen.
The American home may be shrinking, but one space buyers aren’t willing to give up is the kitchen.
“For those buying a smaller house, if that’s what it takes to make the math work, we ask: What part of the home will you shrink? And they say, take the square footage from the home office, the dining room, even the living room, but for God’s sake, stay away from the kitchen,” Quint said.
Homebuyers don’t just want a large kitchen; they’re looking for efficiency and a space that brings the family together. This means they’re asking for bigger island spaces, walk-in pantries to store food and appliances, and even special-use storage for wine and spices.
NAHB data shows that a central kitchen island is a top desired feature among buyers. In some luxury homes, Quint said buyers are even requesting two islands to accommodate cooking, dining, and entertaining needs.
2. Porches and patios are making a comeback.
Outdoor living areas have become more important than ever, especially as homes get smaller and offer fewer gathering spaces.
Survey data from the NAHB shows that 86% of respondents said they want a patio, and 81% said they’d like a back porch — a sign that porches are making a comeback.
The numbers tell the story. In 2008, just 47% of newly built single-family homes had patios; by 2023, that figure had climbed to 64%. Likewise, the share of homes with porches rose from 60% to 68% over the same period.
“Buyers want a patio. They want a front porch,” Quint added. “They want exterior lighting to enhance the outdoor appeal of their home, landscaping, and a deck. If the home’s shrinking, at least that space allows them to have more living space.”
3. The modern McMansion can’t beat a classic home.
For a while, it felt like you couldn’t drive through a neighborhood without seeing rows of boxy, modern homes. You know the look — white or gray stone exteriors, oversized rectangular windows, and often a flat roof.
They may be trendy, but those minimalist builds may not be dominating the market after all. Today’s buyers are leaning more toward traditionally designed homes inspired by classic styles like the kind of house you’d see on “Full House.”
While there’s no clear majority when it comes to architectural preference, NAHB’s survey found that 34% of respondents prefer traditional homes. Meanwhile, 26% favor contemporary designs, 17% lean toward bold modern styles, and just 12% prefer transitional homes, which blend modern aesthetics with traditional elements.
4. Homebuyers are tech-obsessed.
From smartphones to smart cars, Americans crave cutting-edge tech, so of course, we want it in our homes, too.
The NAHB found that the tech features homebuyers want most in their homes include wireless security systems, security cameras, video doorbells, smart thermostats that let them automate their home’s temperature, and multi-zone HVAC systems so they can control the temperature in each room separately.
“The reason these five features top the list is because homeowners are relying on technology to do two things: increase the safety of their home and improve temperature control,” Quint said. “They want technology that works for them.”
Read the full article here
