Peace and Well-Being Among Top Home Amenities Post-Pandemic
NAHB said designers seek to provide buyers physical, emotional, and mental comforts.
A primary home amenity these days is peace, comfort, and one that provides well-being, according to a report this week from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
The NAHB said this is potentially more desired than the number of rooms or types of features within the home, “it can also be simply having a space within the home that provides respite.”
Donald Ruthroff, AIA, founding principal at Design Story Spaces, said in prepared remarks that home buyers are looking more to their homes to “support their day-to-day health — physically, emotionally and mentally.”
Builders and designers are including more walking paths and other outdoor spaces connected to the home to create serenity.
Demand for exterior amenities, such as patios, decks, and porches, in 2023, along with increased demand for home office — which appeared on the list of buyers’ most-wanted features for the first time this year.
Appealing to Those Who Can Afford Higher Mortgage Rates
The report also pointed to a rising trend in homes with 4+ bedrooms rose slightly to 48%, “in part because of the flexibility in use that bedrooms can provide, with the expectation that home size and amenities will continue to grow in 2023 before dropping again in 2024.”
Rose Quint, NAHB assistant vice president of survey research, said in prepared remarks that the move toward larger homes and more amenities in 2023 will reflect the preferences of those who can afford higher interest rates.
She said that in 2024, size will fall back as affordability improves with lower mortgage rates and more buyers re-enter the market.