By Rose Quint
Few events over the last century have had as profound an impact on the ways we live than the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Premier among them is the heightened relevance of ‘home.’ The health crisis thrust the home into a new level of prominence, expanding its purpose beyond just a functional dwelling to many non-traditional roles such as office, gym, or school.
The latest NAHB study on consumer preferences – What Home Buyers Really Want – reveals that 63% of recent and prospective home buyers want a home office. The share has remained above 60% since 2007. Home offices are particularly popular among buyers paying half a million dollars or more for the home (79%), Millennials (74%), and married couples with children (70%).
In terms of size, the same study found that 77% of the buyers who want a home office are looking for it to be 100 square feet or larger (i.e., at least a 10×10 room).
For a complete article summarizing other important findings, please click here. To understand how these preferences vary across buyers of different generations, income, or racial/ethnic groups, visit NAHB’s bookstore for a copy of the complete study.
Looking for home office design help? The designers at Lita Dirks & Co. offer some tips here.
This post was originally published on NAHB’s Eye on Housing blog, where NAHB’s economists discuss the latest housing data and policy.
Featured image: Caruthers Lane, by Frankel Building Group. Photo by Kerry Kirk Photography.
