Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
Convenience, livability, and energy efficiency are top priorities in the construction of new homes this year, according to the National Association of Home Builders, which recently released the most popular features in new single-family homes in 2014. Builders nationwide were surveyed to find out what features they were most likely to include a single-family home this year.
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Among the features that are most likely to be included in a typical single-family home this year are:
Also, builders report more attention to energy efficiency in the construction of new homes. For example, Energy-Star rated appliances, programmable thermostats, and Energy-Star rated windows also were among the top of the list for features most likely to be included.
“These features help make the home more comfortable and can save the home owner significant money over the long term,” according to NAHB. On a median per-square-foot basis, home owners spent 78 cents per square foot per year on electricity, while owners of new homes spent 65 cents per square foot per year, according to data from the 2009 American Housing Survey.
Other popular features that builders listed included granite countertops; a double sink and a central island in kitchens: a linen closet and private toilet in the bathroom; first-floor ceilings that are at least nine-feet high; a front porch; outdoor lighting; and a patio.
