Home Buyers Lust for Luxury Homes

When home buyers were ask to choose between a bigger house with fewer ammenities and a smaller house with high-quality ammenities, buyers left little doubt as to what they want. A remarkable 63% prefer the smaller home with high end products.

In terms of the floorplan and layout of the home, buyers want nine-foot ceilings and 2430 square feet of living space. They like windows, openness and lots of light. 69% want Large master bedroom suites. Younger buyers want the laundry room near the bedrooms and older buyers want it near the kitchen, but all buyers want a laundry room. A 2 car garage is OK, but 3 is what they really like. The majority of buyers want only a half wall or no wall separating the cook from the family room.

In terms of high end features and finishes, upscale buyers know what they want:

In the kitchen, granite countertops, hardwood cabinets and stainless steel appliances are the mark of a quality home. 84% want a walk-in pantry. 77% want an island work area. 62% want specialized storage areas for appliances, work desk and computer area. 62% prefer a built-in microwave, separate cooktop (gas, if you are asking) and built-in ovens.

In the Bathrooms, 91% of buyers want a linen closet and 78% want a separate shower enclosure and oversize tub (jetted, if possible).

When it comes to flooring, hardwood floors are still number one. Tile, marble and deep, plush carpeting are holding their own. New flooring surfaces like bamboo and cork are catching buyer's eyes. These new surfaces are quiet, forgiving, dramatic and often environmentally friendly.

Upscale ammenities, Lust for Luxury and historical highs in house prices make it increasingly more expensive to keep up with the Joneses, but at least the Joneses these days have more style.