NAHB: Amenities Trumping More Space

New homebuyers are "overwhelmingly" choosing higher-quality features over more space, according to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders.When asked to choose between a bigger house with fewer amenities and a smaller one with more amenities, 63% of the surveyed homeowners opted for the latter, the NAHB reported. "One particular consumer trend stands out: while homes do not appear to be getting bigger, they are definitely getting better," said Jerry Howard, chief executive officer of the association. "There is a marked increase in quality, with updated features and amenities." The top features homeowners said they want in the kitchen are a walk-in pantry (desired by 84%), an island work area (77%), special use storage (62%), and a built-in microwave oven (62%), the NAHB said. The top bathroom features were a linen closet (desired by 91%), an exhaust fan (88%), and a separate shower enclosure (78%). The association can be found online at http://www.nahb.org.