Did you know that we women account for 85% of all consumer purchases and are a major influence in 91% of all new homes purchased? Or that single women now account for 20% of all homes purchased (single men are only 10%) according to the National Association of REALTORS®? You best believe new home builders are paying attention to those kinds of stats. A recent article by Marilyn Lewis at MSNRealEstate.com was all about what women want in a new home. I thought you might enjoy seeing how you stack up against other women who are shopping for a new home. If you agree, disagree or have a totally different must-have item that isn’t listed below, let’s hear about it.
Must-Haves
Big closets really matter and not just because we need space to store our stuff. Having spacious walk-in closets like this one from DesignerMag.org help busy women stay organized. Think of them as tidy islands of sanity in a crazy life. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that you can always just close the closet door.
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Security or lack of it can be a deal-breaker for female home buyers, especially if they’re single. Our Taylor Morrison Interactive Home™ is a big hit because it offers peace-of-mind features such as front door video monitoring and remote security system monitoring and controls.
Open floor plan at The Fairways at Steiner Ranch in Austin.
Women want space for socializing with family and friends. Ideally, it’s inviting indoors and revolves around food. Many of our new homes feature an open plan with great room or family room blending into a casual eating area and a big kitchen, often with an island and counter like our model home at The Fairways at Steiner Ranch in Austin. By the way, a smart layout was also on the must-have list. Women want homes that allow life to flow smoothly and are designed for the way people really live. And, no surprise here, everybody wants a great kitchen with space for dining, entertaining, doing homework and just hanging out.
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Laundry happens. Over and over again. Having a dedicated space like this one from Shelterness.com in which to do this endless chore is important to women. Even more important is where it’s located. No working woman wants to drive into the garage and see a pile of dirty clothes at the end of the work day. Popular spots are a separate area near the kitchen or upstairs in a two-story home.
Nice to Have
While the following weren’t necessarily deal breakers, their present in a new home could be the frosting that makes the cake. Women tend to care more about location than size, for instance. Low maintenance is attractive, too. We already have enough to do.
A separate shower and tub, preferably a jetted one, are also on the Nice to Have list. I love the dual showers and vanity shown here in Lazio plan at Esplanade Golf and Country Club at Lakewood Ranch in Sarasota.
Rounding out the list was the two-car garage. Even single women want them, even if they only have one car. Why? Storage!
