Ashton Woods, a home builder in multiple markets in Florida, Texas, Arizona, North Carolina, South Carolinaand Georgia, recently surveyed homeowners who plan to buy a new residence in the next 10 years to find out what they were looking for in a newly constructed home.
The Washington Post's Michele Lerner presents some highlights about the buying preferences that emerged from the survey:
• All-white kitchens are now second choice. The survey found an overwhelming majority of buyers prefer natural wood cabinets for their kitchen, pushing white cabinets to second place followed by distressed wood cabinets.
• Living space is more important than bedroom size. Sixty-one percent of the homeowners surveyed said they would trade a larger bedroom to have larger living areas.
• Hobby rooms become a priority. Bonus rooms on the main or upper level and basements are set to be transformed to match the hobbies of homeowners. From yoga rooms to craft spaces or wine-tasting rooms, 76 percent of the homeowners surveyed said they would spend extra to incorporate a hobby room in their next house.
• Designated home office is important for home buyers of all ages. Sixty-seven percent of buyers say they want a home office in their next home. Despite wireless technology allowing people to work anywhere, the majority want a designated space in their home for work.
• Personalization is a priority. When choosing a builder, 75 percent of those surveyed said they are more likely to select a builder that offers design options, and 67 percent said they are willing to pay more for those options. Among their favorite options are custom built-ins, decorative ceilings and rustic wood elements.