When it comes to popular home features, trends come and go. If you are selling a home or are interested in what other people are looking for to help give you ideas of what you might want in your next home, knowing the top trends is a good idea. It is also good to know what is trending when selling a home to help market it and grab the interest of buyers. Take a look at this list of the most desired features from homebuyers in 2026.
What Do Buyers Want in a House in 2026?
Energy, efficiency, and sustainability
This has been a growing trend for almost a decade now. Buyers treat these home features like a must-have instead of things that are nice to have in a home. This is because the cost of living has increased, and buyers want to find ways to save money on home ownership, where utility bills are concerned.
Wendy Kime, Plymouth REALTOR says, “Buyers are looking for homes that have energy-efficient windows, quality siding, efficient heating and cooling systems, solar power, smart thermostats, and climate-resistant features that help protect homes against natural disasters.”
Flexible/open floor plans with multiple uses
The open layout concept, especially in main living spaces, is still popular as the preferred floor plan of a home. However, there is one space that many people are looking for in a home. It is called the flex room. This is a bonus space that could be used for multiple purposes, like hobbies, a guest room when needed, a home office, etc.
Many buyers are looking for right size homes rather than the oversized homes. One that offers just enough space with a good flow for modern daily living needs.
Updated and functional kitchen
The kitchen is always at the top of the list for buyers, and this has spanned many decades. What buyers want to see in kitchens has changed, however, from time to time. Buyers in 2026 are looking for kitchens that have plenty of space with a large island and plenty of countertop. They want to see ample storage, and having storage that is fit with great organizational systems is seen as a plus.
Wellness features
This is one of the latest trends and rising demands among popularity with homebuyers. Finding homes that help buyers to not only enjoy their home, but also encourage them and make living a healthier lifestyle more convenient.
Many buyers are looking for homes that have space for a dedicated home gym, a spot for a reading nook, space for self-care and mental health/relaxation, and even a resort-style spa-like bathroom in the main bedroom.
Enhanced outdoor living space
Outdoor living space grew incredibly popular in 2020 when utilizing outdoor space was mostly through your private yard. Outdoor space was always seen as a major asset, but creating enhanced outdoor spaces that feel more like extensions of the living space in a home has grown incredibly in popularity over the last 5 to 6 years.
Homes with covered porches and patios that allow use all year long are an incredible asset. Additionally, a low-maintenance landscape that is still beautiful and draws you outside is seen as an amazing perk.
Practical details
Beyond just a nice, trendy design aesthetic of a home, many homebuyers are making sure that they are checking into the practicality and resilience of the home they are purchasing. They are hoping to see a home that is updated and in good condition, where they have to put very little money into it shortly after they purchase it.
They’re looking for homes with roofs in good condition, plumbing that is not outdated, electrical that is in great condition and up to code, etc. Not only are they looking for the fun things that make a house look nice, but they are also looking for the practical things that make a house function well.
They want to know that the functional things are in great condition, as these are the major costs in home repair.
