What’s In and What’s Out

Source: Mark Nash, Realtor Magazine

IN:

A reduced carbon footprint: How you and your home impact the Earth matters to more buyers who want a home that lets them save energy and lessen their contribution to global warming.
Outdoor living: Massive fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, and under-patio heating to extend the season are not just for the Sun Belt anymore.
Fully concealed appliances: That wood-printed cover for the fridge is not enough any longer; now appliances are hidden behind hinged doors.
Floating homes: Not your father’s houseboat, these nonmobile homes are basically ranch houses sitting on stationary barges in a lake or river.
Home elevators: Even builders of mid-priced homes are adding this, which is essential for boomers wanting to age in place.
Pet showers: Clean pets mean clean homes, and who want to mess up the bathtub when this feature can be a part of the garage or mudroom?
Freestanding bathtubs: These oversized soaker tubs, or “bath thrones,” have supplanted whirlpool baths as the must-have bathroom centerpiece.
Bathroom suites: Whether it’s multiple flat-screen TVs or a mini fridge and cappuccino maker, you’ll soon have a whole home inside this one room.

OUT:

Living rooms: The incredible shrinking parlor has ceased to exist in some homes.
Voluminous ceiling heights: The absurd look and wasted space of 20-foot ceilings in 12- by 10-foot rooms in finally dawning on buyers.
McMansions: Could it be that “small is beautiful” is finally gaining traction?