Walk through enough open houses and a pattern emerges quickly. Some features stop buyers in their tracks. Others barely register. The gap between what sellers assume buyers want and what buyers actually expect has grown wider than ever, driven by shifting work habits, rising utility costs, and a market where every dollar has to justify itself.
The data tells a clear story. NAHB’s “What Home Buyers Really Want, 2024 Edition” surveyed more than 3,000 recent and prospective home buyers to find out exactly what moves the needle. Meanwhile, NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers gathered insights from buyers and sellers who completed transactions between July 2024 and June 2025. Together, these reports draw a sharper picture of what today’s buyer genuinely considers non-negotiable versus merely nice.
1. A Dedicated Laundry Room
The two most wanted features in a home are a laundry room and a patio, according to NAHB’s latest study on buyer preferences. It’s a finding that catches some sellers off guard, but it makes complete sense. Nobody wants to lug laundry through a living space or sort clothes in a damp basement corner.
According to NAHB’s 2024 “What Home Buyers Really Want” survey, roughly 86% of buyers rate a laundry room as desirable or essential in a new home. Storage is also important, with linen closets and a walk-in pantry both wanted by about two thirds of buyers. The laundry room, in particular, has long topped wish lists and shows no signs of slipping.
2. A Patio or Outdoor Living Space
In addition to the laundry room and a patio, both wanted by 86% of buyers, the most wanted list also includes exterior lighting wanted by roughly four out of five buyers, a front porch, and landscaping. The outdoor space surge is real and durable. It isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about extending the home’s usable footprint.
Covered patios, retractable walls, and outdoor kitchens extend usable square footage and make entertaining easier. Backyards with fire pits, weather-resistant seating, and native plants feel inviting without requiring constant upkeep. Buyers increasingly view the backyard as a proper room, not an afterthought.
3. Energy-Efficient Windows and Appliances
Two features related to energy efficiency consistently rank near the top of buyer wish lists: ENERGY STAR windows, wanted by roughly 83% of buyers, and ENERGY STAR appliances, wanted by about 80%. Utility costs have become a genuine calculation during home tours, not just an abstract concern.
NAHB’s 2024 report found that buyers are looking specifically for Energy Star windows and Energy Star appliances when considering a home. Tankless water heaters and LED lighting are a few other energy-saving options that homebuyers seek when looking at properties. The math is simple: lower monthly bills make a higher purchase price easier to justify.
4. A Home Office or Flexible Work Space
Buyers across the country are opting for homes with an office space. With many people working remotely or on a hybrid schedule, a dedicated office at home has become a higher priority. Even those who aren’t working from home find value in having an organized space to set up a desk, computer, and file organization.
A massive majority of 91% of experts agree that people are more likely to have a home office than a spare bedroom in 2024. Research suggests that by 2025, 36.2 million Americans will be working remotely. That is a significant slice of the buyer pool, and for them, the home office isn’t optional. It’s foundational.
5. Smart Home Security Features
Security cameras are now wanted by roughly three quarters of buyers, 36 points higher than a decade ago, followed by a wired home security system and a programmable thermostat. The pace of change here is striking. Technology is the common thread through all the features gaining the most traction with buyers in recent years.
In today’s fast-evolving housing market, technology isn’t just a bonus. Smart home features are no longer reserved for luxury listings; they’re quickly becoming standard expectations among modern home buyers. A video doorbell and smart locks now register the same way granite countertops once did – a baseline signal of a home kept up with the times.
6. An Updated Kitchen with Ample Storage
Two kitchen features consistently rank among the most wanted: table space for eating and a walk-in pantry, both desired by roughly 80% of buyers. The kitchen’s role has evolved well beyond cooking. It’s now the central hub for socializing, remote work check-ins, and family time.
Today’s lifestyle is significantly more casual than the one previous generations led. Most families would prefer to trade formal living and dining rooms for larger kitchens that flow into family rooms for easier entertaining and better interaction while studying, cooking, or visiting. Most production floor plans now reflect these preferences. A walk-in pantry, in particular, has shifted from a luxury item to a near-standard expectation.
7. Quality Neighborhood and Community Access
According to NAR’s 2025 data, 59% of buyers ranked quality of neighborhood as their top factor, while 47% prioritized proximity to friends and family. By contrast, only 31% said convenience to their job was a top consideration. That’s a major shift from a decade ago, when commute distance drove far more decisions.
That figure on job convenience represents a steep drop from 52% in 2014. It signals a larger trend: homebuying decisions are being shaped increasingly by lifestyle, community, and social ties – not just commuting convenience. For many buyers today, the neighborhood itself is essentially a feature of the home.
8. Sufficient Storage Throughout the Home
The more time people spend at home, the more they realize how important it is to keep everything organized and clutter-free. A few of the sought-after storage features named in NAHB’s survey included extra garage storage and a walk-in pantry. This demand runs deeper than just closet space. It reflects how people actually live day-to-day.
Modern homebuyers are looking for less square footage but more customized features in a house. The National Association of Home Builders’ 2024 “What Home Buyers Really Want” report showed that homebuyers are looking for slightly less square footage – just over 2,400 square feet, the smallest desired home size in over a decade. Buyers want homes that feel tight, efficient, and organized – not sprawling and hard to maintain.
9. Move-In Ready Condition (No Major Renovation Needed)
Purchasers of new homes were looking to avoid renovations and problems with plumbing or electricity, a priority cited by roughly 43% of new-home buyers, and wanted the ability to choose and customize design features in their home. Avoiding a renovation headache is, increasingly, a feature in itself. With material costs still elevated and contractors booked out, buyers factor in the cost and stress of potential work before making an offer.
The 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers highlights a market in transition. While first-time buyers are entering homeownership later and facing new financial challenges, today’s buyers are more intentional, better informed, and increasingly focused on finding homes that support their long-term goals. A home that’s ready to live in from day one – without a punch list of urgent repairs – carries real, measurable value in this market.
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