There are more than 80 million Millennials in the United States who will make up the next generation of first-time homeowners. These homebuyers know what they want and, surprisingly, they are ready to get their hands dirty to transform a house to meet their unique needs. In March 2013, Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate released national survey findings of 18- to 35-year-old Americans that reveal the next generation of homeowners are rewriting the rules to homeownership and reinterpreting traditional norms to fit their values. Stereotypical luxury and prototypical homes do not entice them; rather, these consumers strive to own homes that stand apart and suit their personal lifestyles.
Results of the survey indicate that the next generation of homeowners want essential, purposeful homes (77 percent) equipped with technological capabilities they have grown accustomed to, as opposed to conventional, grandiose homes preferred by their parents’ generation.
“The home we bought had an extra-large attic that is perfect for a home entertainment center,” says Kate Yarbrough, 30, who recently bought a home in Friendswood, Texas. “My husband and I wanted a home with technology capabilities and access to fiber-optic Internet speed.”
More than half (56 percent) of Millennials surveyed believe home technology capabilities are more important than “curb appeal,” and 64 percent of those surveyed would simply not consider living in a home without these amenities.
