New Home Source Blog

What we really want in a home

Today’s buyers want more features in their homes and, given our 24/7 lifestyles, they mostly involve relaxation.

According to the National Association of Home Builders' annual consumer preferences survey, “must-have” features include decks, patios and homesites with trees. Walk-in pantries, islands/work space, solid surfaces, built-in microwaves, and designated storage areas were tops in the kitchen, while linen closets, separate showers and whirlpool tubs were important in bathrooms. Overall, buyers also want more storage in a new home – and lots of it – in every room of the house, including the garage.

Powered by the Sun

Using the sun’s energy for power could soon become commonplace for new homeowners in Hawaii. According to a recent article in the Honolulu Advertiser, the island is on its way to becoming the first state in the U.S. to require that all new single-family homes come equipped with energy-saving solar water heaters beginning in 2010.

With the price of oil at more than $100/barrel, using the sun as a power source is also a powerful financial alternative: estimates report that electricity costs for an average new home could be cut by up to 35 percent, simply by using a solar water heater. Hawaii currently offers a solar energy tax credit for homes built before 2010; there's also a federal tax credit available.

In related news, a Roper survey found that nearly 90 percent of Americans think that solar electricity should be an option for all new home construction, with three-fourths of respondents saying that solar power is “more important than ever.”