Personalization, protection and pickleball will be paramount for new homebuyers next year, according to a report from Zillow.
Tapping into Realtor intel, the group analyzed its listing database for keywords that are increasing most in popularity heading into the new year.
“Real estate agents have a front-row seat to what today’s buyers want most, and that’s reflected in the way they describe homes online,” said Zillow home trends expert Amanda Pendleton. “Listing descriptions are short, so every word counts. When we see a sharp increase in certain features being mentioned in listings on Zillow, whether it’s spa-inspired bathrooms or bespoke artisan craftsmanship, it’s a clear signal that these details are capturing buyers’ attention right now and hint at what’s next in home design.”
From bold, beautiful colors to one-of-a-kind vintage accents, here are the results:
Color drenching
Out with millennial grays and off-whites and in with literally any color. Zillow says the hottest new home trend next year will be color drenching — the practice of painting an entire room in the same color, from walls, ceilings and trims to even floors and furniture. Mentions of the vibrant trend jumped 149%, with buyers evidently attracted to “immersive” shades and moody hues.
Reading nooks
Quite on-theme with many of the self care-centric trends on Zillow’s list, reading nooks are experiencing a 48% uptick in popularity. Bonus points if the nook is tucked in a unique spot, like under a staircase or behind a hidden door.
Protection from the elements
Natural disasters are top-of-mind for homebuyers, who want to ensure that their purchase is protected from the elements. Zillow listings mentioning flood protection rose 64%, while elevation from flooding increased 26%; defensible space landscaping — a common form of fire protection in wildfire-prone areas — increased 36% and fire protection systems rose 28%.
Sustainability
While broad listing keywords like “sustainable” and “green” increased by 21%, more specific sustainability features are also skyrocketing in popularity. Mentions of zero-energy-ready homes jumped 70%, whole-home batteries rose 40% and electric vehicle charging rose 25%.
After all, as Zillow pointed out in its report: “Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a selling point.”
Self-care
The keyphrase “wellness features” jumped 33% on Zillow, and “spa-inspired” bathrooms rose 22%, indicating that buyers want their home to become their personal oasis.
That said, certain wellness-inspired features are declining in popularity, like at-home juice stations (mentions of the keyword dropped 19%). Likewise, buyers are abandoning features that, while visually appealing, may be more trouble than they’re worth — for instance, mentions of marble sinks, known for being incredibly hard to clean and maintain, fell 15%.
Personalization
While mentions of generic “man caves” are down 10% on Zillow, sporting features like golf simulators, pickleball courts and batting cages are steadily on the rise (by 25%, 25% and 18%, respectively), highlighting buyers’ desire to personalize their spaces to their own particular interests and needs.
In that same vein, new listings are also more likely to mention artisan craftsmanship (up 21%), vintage touches (up 17%) and “whimsy” (up 15%).