5 Highly Desired Home Features for Today’s Buyers

The most essential features for homebuyers right now are a laundry room and exterior lighting, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ What Home Buyers Really Want (2021 Edition) survey. Results come from a national survey of more than 3,200 current and recent prospective buyers. Buyers were provided with more than 200 home and community features and were tasked with labeling each one as essential, desirable, indifferent, or do not want. Laundry rooms and exterior lighting received the highest share of essential and desirable votes. Ceiling fans, Energy Star-rated windows, and patios followed closely behind.

The most wanted list (graph below) consists of 12 features that received an essential or desirable rating from at least 80% of all home buyers in the study.

In addition to a laundry room and exterior lighting (both wanted by 87% of buyers), the list also includes:

• Three features related to energy efficiency: ENERGY STAR windows, ENERGY STAR appliances, and energy efficient lighting.
• Two outdoor features: a patio and a front porch.
• Two kitchen features: a walk-in pantry and a double kitchen sink.
• Ceiling fans, hardwood floors for main level, and a full bath on that main level.