Most popular features in new homes this year
According to data presented by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, the size of new homes is up 13.4 percent in the last four years alone, with a massive rise in 4+ bedroom homes being sold.
Regardless of size, the NAHB says that features builders are most likely to include in a typical single-family home this year are a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, low-e windows, a laundry room and a great room.
Energy-efficiency is also a key theme, as Energy-Star rated appliances, programmable thermostats and Energy-Star rated windows also rank high on the list.
This is no surprise, given recent data from the Home Industry Leadership Board indicating that Millennials prioritize green features regardless of the cost (and who do you think comprises of a large portion of new home buyers). Fully 58 percent of Millennials surveyed stated the “re-use of old materials in [their] home improvement projects is important,” and 47 percent believed that going green made them better people, while 41 percent stated that going green was already and existing part of their lifestyle.
Throw in a kitchen island and a nice patio
According to builders, granite countertops, a double-sink and a central island will likely make the cut in the kitchen as well as a linen closet and a private toilet in the bathroom.
Other features that builders are likely to include are first-floor ceilings at least nine-feet high, a front porch, exterior lighting and a patio.
Conversely, the most unlikely features to show up in 2014 homes are laminate kitchen countertops, an outdoor kitchen, an outdoor fireplace, a sunroom, a two-story family room, a media room, a two-story foyer and a whirlpool in the master bathroom.
