09/10/2026
What new-home buyers want in 2026: A Homes dotcom survey
Shoppers, recent buyers prioritize sufficient space, with a focus on function rather than looks
By David Holtzman
Homesdotcom’s 2026 survey of people who are looking for or have recently moved into newly constructed homes, “What new home buyers want,” provides an overview of their priorities, from price and size preferences to specific features they seek.
Buyers place a high value on personalizing their homes and prioritize functionality over upscale finishes. Their top motivation is gaining more space, followed by financial considerations, such as finding an affordable neighborhood. " Our consumer views a home as a personalized canvas," the report says, "driving the demand for full structural and aesthetic customization to a staggering 70%."
For the survey, Homesdotcom partnered with Good Run Research and CMI Research in May to poll more than 3,000 people aged 25 and older with budgets of at least $250,000 who either purchased a new single-family home in the past two years or plan to do so in the next two.
The report includes profiles of buyers in nine states, showing how their top priorities vary by region. In Florida, for example, where hurricanes are an annual risk, buyers place a premium on the health and safety advantages of a new home. First-time buyers are more prominent in certain states than others; in North Carolina, they’re roughly two-thirds of buyers, but less than half in Arizona.
The sweet spot for the average buyer, the survey found, is a four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom house in the 2,000 to 2,500-square-foot range. The largest share of buyers is clustered in the entry-level and mid-tier price ranges, and about a third are looking for homes priced $250,000 to $450,000, with another quarter eyeing homes up to $650,000.
A striking data point from the survey is that 64% of respondents work remotely at least once a week, making a home office especially valuable. Many people who work at home are choosing where to live based on their proximity to their workplace; on average, according to the survey, buyers cut 8 minutes from their daily commute.
Another important finding is that 51% of buyers now use AI tools in their home search, and an even larger share engage with AI three or more times a week.
51% of new-home buyers prioritized this over laundry rooms, walk-in closets
49% of new-home buyers want a second office
Insurance tops list of new-home buyer concerns. And
7 in 10 new-construction buyers say 'no customization' a deal-breaker.
While a majority of the new-home buyers surveyed are married, a quarter are single. More than half are acquiring a home for the first time. Not surprisingly, about three-quarters of Generation Z members looking to buy a home are first-time buyers, and 56% of millennials are shopping for their first home.
The survey breaks down the price ranges buyers are shopping in and how their priorities differ across those ranges. In what the survey calls the “attainable” market, for example, buyers want to maximize the use of spaces, such as a home office, within a limited footprint. On the other hand, the “discerning buyer” with more money to spend may want dual home offices and a high-end kitchen with waterfall countertops.
Besides a home office, other rooms buyers tend to be particular about include the kitchen, where more than 80% place a premium on natural light, quality cabinetry and extra kitchen storage. In bathrooms, 62% specifically want a freestanding bathtub and a separate walk-in shower.
“Properties offering only one or the other are effectively alienating the vast majority of the market,” according to the report.
Many buyers also want a hobby room and even a package room for secure deliveries. Others surveyed said multigenerational space is of great importance to them, so they can make room for older family members or returning college graduates. Energy efficiency is also central, especially for younger buyers who consider its long-term financial value as homeowners.
In terms of specific features, a slight majority of those surveyed said a private backyard is the most important feature when looking for a new house.
Security features such as cameras and lighting also ranked highly.
By contrast, a mere 1% of respondents said having access to a clubhouse with amenities such as a swimming pool or fitness equipment was important, and only about 3% thought other community amenities, like a golf course, were vital.
“If a builder’s current marketing leads with community amenities, the 2026 data suggests a reallocation toward private backyard, security features, flex space, and kitchen quality, which is where buyers are actually making decisions,” according to the survey report.
The report also recommends that builders target their marketing based on what buyers appear to want most in individual states. In California, for example, people looking to buy may need reassurance about high property taxes, but that may not be buyers’ biggest worry elsewhere.
It matters what vibes buyers feel.
Financial concerns are top of mind for buyers, with the cost of insurance the biggest single concern. Property taxes and closing costs also rank highly. About three-quarters of first-time buyers worry about qualifying for a mortgage.
In addition to concrete indicators such as desired square footage and price range, surveyors asked buyers what they want a home to feel like when they walk in the door. The most common responses were “comfortable” and “safe.” These answers should serve as a cue to builders, according to the report, on how they should design model homes and write copy for real estate listings. But again, the vibes homebuyers want to feel can vary quite a bit from one market to the next.
For more market insights to help you buy or sell, contact our team at Manifest Realty.
Lesley Davidson, PE
Broker
Manifest Realty Brokerage
