A trend that appeared before the recession was the high demand for luxury amenities such as outdoor kitchens. Today, buyers want walk-in closests and smart thermostats.
Realtor.com reports that homebuilders across the nation “have decided to skip the sexy, cutting out [luxury] features in favor of efficient, organized, and pragmatic ones.”
A survey of nearly 400 builders found that demand for walk-in closets, laundry rooms, energy-efficient windows and appliances, and programmable thermostats were on the rise.
Meanwhile, fewer homebuyers find an outdoor kitchen, outdoor fireplaces, sunrooms, main-level carpeting, and media rooms to be a necessity or at least desirable.