These potential home buyers are most likely to think it’s a good time to get off the fence—and have strong opinions about the design features their new homes will include.

At 32% of the population of home-buying age—generally defined as those who are at least 30 years old, the Gen X population cohort isn’t the largest, but it’s the most mobile, said presenter Mollie Carmichael, principal of John Burns Real Estate Consulting in Irvine, Calif. “They are in full force with their careers and they need to accommodate growing families,” she said.

In sharp contrast, even though they constitute 41% of prospective home buyers, Baby Boomers continue to wait for the market to improve, and their decisions to delay retirement also delay their decisions to downsize into a smaller home, Carmichael said.

Most of the 10,000 buyers and potential buyers in 27 metro areas that the consulting company surveyed were optimistic about a new home purchase, with between 85% and 89% saying that it was a good time to buy a home. Only 13% said they thought home prices would continue to fall, further evidence that it’s “not all about price,” she said. “They want something compelling, from a design or personalization standpoint,” said Carmichael.

In addition, though the average home size is shrinking, a majority of prospective buyers said they would like a bigger home than the one they have. “These are first-time buyers or younger families looking for more room to grow,” she said.

Seventy percent said that they were willing to pay $5,000 more for a green home, but those responding to the survey said that they expected new homes to already have many green technology features. They also said they would pay a premium for dark wood cabinets, a separate tub and shower and a fireplace in the living room, and more preferred a great room over formal spaces.

And while community amenities are important to Gen X buyers, 46% said they prefer a home in a large-lot, suburban development, versus the 21% looking for a traditional or “walkable” neighborhood.

Webinar panelist Heather McCune, director of marketing at Bassenian/Lagoni Architects in Newport Beach, Calif., also emphasized that design will be important in generating sales in the emerging marketplace. “The notion of ‘build it and they will come’ no longer works. Design matters,” she said.

McCune said buyers are looking for homes with a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, even in colder climates, to create the perception of greater home size, even if the space is only usable for part of the year. They also want more storage, an open floor plan and flexibility in the garage.

“While Gen X numbers are smaller than the birth cohorts before and after them, their numbers have been enlarged by steady immigration,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “Gen X may wait longer than their predecessors to establish their own household or buy a home because of the recent recession impacts, but the trends are still likely to occur as they have for past generations.”

This webinar was one in a four part series entitled New Horizons: Setting a Course for Success in the New Market. The series was sponsored by Simonton Windows and ThermaTru.

For more information, visit www.nahb.org.

While Generation X isn’t the largest population group — making up 32 percent of the population compared to 41 percent of baby boomers — it’s the most mobile age group, says Mollie Carmichael, principal of John Burns Real Estate Consulting in Irvine, Calif., the company that conducted the survey.

“They are in full force with their careers, and they need to accommodate growing families,” Carmichael says.

This generation is coming with their own set of house preferences that may differ from other generations. Even though home sizes continue to shrink, first-time buyers and younger families are looking for more room to grow, Carmichael says. Nearly 50 percent said they prefer a home with a large lot and in a suburban development. Only 21 percent said they are looking for a traditional or “walkable neighborhood,” according to the survey.

“They want something compelling, from a design or personalization standpoint,” Carmichael says. 

And many want “green,” energy-efficient features, too. Regardless of age group, 70 percent of buyers said in the survey they are willing to pay $5,000 more for a home with “green” features.

Most buyers also said they’d be willing to pay a premium for such housing characteristics as dark wood cabinets, a separate tub and shower, and a fireplace in the living room.

Source: “Young Home Buyers Will Lead Housing Market Recovery, Says NAHB,” National Association of Home Builders (March 17, 2011)

Thinking of remodeling your home?  In this week’s cost vs. value segment we’ll be looking at the kitchen. Remodeling the kitchen can be one of the most dramatic changes made to enhance a home’s value and general appeal. After all, isn’t that where most good parties are! Here are the latest numbers for the Seattle area.

Minor Kitchen Remodel   Project Description: In a functional but dated 200-square-foot kitchen with 30 linear feet of cabinetry and countertops, leave cabinet boxes in place but replace fronts with new raised-panel wood doors and drawers, including new hardware. Replace wall oven and cooktop with new energy-efficient models. Replace laminate countertops; install mid-priced sink and faucet. Repaint trim, add wall covering, and remove and replace resilient flooring.

Project cost:  $22,476                     
Resale value:  $22,595                  
Cost Recouped:  100.5%

Major Kitchen Remodel – Midrange   Project Description: Update an outmoded 200-square-foot kitchen with a functional layout of 30 linear feet of semi-custom wood cabinets, including a 3-by-5-foot island; laminate countertops; and standard double-tub stainless-steel sink with standard single-lever faucet. Include energy-efficient wall oven, cooktop, ventilation system, built-in microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal, and custom lighting. Add new resilient flooring. Finish with painted walls, trim, and ceiling.

Project cost:  $61,570                     
Resale value:  $57,600                  
Cost Recouped:  93.6%

Major Kitchen Remodel – Upscale  Project Description:  Update outmoded 200-square-foot kitchen with 30 linear feet of top-of-the-line custom cherry cabinets with built-in sliding shelves and other interior accessories. Include stone countertops with imported ceramic or glass tile backsplash; built-in refrigerator, cooktop, and     36-inch commercial grade range and vent hood; built-in warming drawer, trash compactor, and built-in combination microwave and convection oven. Install high-end undermount sink with designer faucets, and   built-in water filtration system. Add new general and task lighting including low-voltage under-cabinet lights. Install cork flooring, cherry trim.

Project cost:  $118,374                   
Resale value:  $101,470                
Cost recouped:  85.7%

All of the statistical information was provided by
c 2008 Hanley Wood, LLC.  Reproduced by permission.  Complete city data from the Remodeling 2008 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded for free at www.costvsvalue.com

If you have any questions on this information, I welcome you to email me at tony@staging.eastsidehomes.com

Posted By:
Tony Meier
Eastside & Seattle Realtor
EastsideHomesBlog.com
EastsideHomes.com
Seattle’s Eastside Real Estate Resource
tony@staging.eastsidehomes.com

Minor Kitchen Remodel   Project Description: In a functional but dated 200-square-foot kitchen with 30 linear feet of cabinetry and countertops, refinish existing cabinets, and install new energy-efficient wall oven and cooktop, laminate countertops, mid-priced sink and faucet, wall covering, and resilient flooring. Repaint. Job includes new raised-panel wood doors on cabinets.

Project cost:  $22,380
Resale value:  $28,183   
Cost Recouped:  125.9%

Major Kitchen Remodel – Midrange   Project Description: Update an outmoded 200-square-foot kitchen by designing and installing a functional layout of new cabinets, laminate countertops, and standard double-tub stainless-steel sink with standard single-lever faucet. Include energy-efficient wall oven, cooktop, ventilation system, built-in microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposer, and custom lighting. Add new resilient floor. Finish with painted walls, trim, and ceiling. Include 30 linear feet of semi-custom grade wood cabinets, including a 3-by-5-foot island.

Project cost:  $60,199
Resale value:  $64,785
Cost Recouped:  107.6%

Major Kitchen Remodel – Upscale  Project Description:  Update an outmoded 200-square-foot kitchen with 30 linear feet of custom cherry cabinets and stone countertops with imported ceramic tile backsplash. Include built-in refrigerator, cooktop, and 36-inch commercial-grade range and vent hood; warming drawer; trash compactor; combination microwave and convection oven; high-end, undermount sink; designer faucets; and water-filtration system. Add new general and task lighting, including low-voltage undercabinet lights. Install cork flooring with cherry trim. Include a 3-by-5-foot island.

Project cost:  $116,210
Resale value:  $115,287
Cost recouped:  99.2%

All of the statistical information was provided by
c 2007 Hanley Wood, LLC.  Reproduced by permission.  Complete city data from the Remodeling 2007 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded for free at www.costvsvalue.com