What Buyers Want in a Home: Top Must-Haves in 2025
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Richard Haddad Executive EditorClose
Richard Haddad Executive EditorRichard Haddad is the executive editor of HomeLight.com. He works with an experienced content team that oversees the company’s blog featuring in-depth articles about the home buying and selling process, homeownership news, home care and design tips, and related real estate trends. Previously, he served as an editor and content producer for World Company, Gannett, and Western News & Info, where he also served as news director and director of internet operations.
In this age of social media, smartphones, and AI algorithms, there is no shortage of information on how you should remodel or upgrade your home to increase its value. But you only have so much time and money, and if you’re looking to sell your home in the future, you need to know what buyers want in a home.
The fact remains that there’s only one opinion that matters: The buyer’s.
What do buyers want in a home?
HomeLight partners with the top-performing real estate agents in the country. We regularly survey our network of 28,000 agents, asking them for expert insights that can help buyers and sellers make informed decisions.
The list below will help you gain a better idea of what buyers want in a home.
Affordability
The 2025 housing market is being shaped by a rise in new listings, home sales, and home prices. Though the National Association of Realtors (NAR) see signs of an improving market, mortgage rates may remain between 6%-7%.
A recent HomeLight survey of top real estate agents revealed the increasing emphasis that homebuyers are placing on affordability. For example, for first-time buyers:
- 27% report first-time buyers requesting mortgage rate buydown from sellers
- 23% are using gift funds from relatives for a down payment
- 16% are using programs such as down payment assistance
- 13% move longer distances in search of affordability
- 12% buy smaller homes
Game-changing kitchen updates
In HomeLight’s most recent End of Year 2024 Top Agent Insights survey, 88% of agents say updating your kitchen is the best way to appeal to today’s buyers.
As you can see by this overwhelming agreement among the nation’s most experienced agents, if your kitchen or appliances don’t appeal to a buyer, your chances of selling your home quickly or for top dollar can dramatically decrease.
Top Houston real estate agent Clarence Smith, who sells properties 49% faster than the average agent in his market, says one way to upgrade your kitchen is by installing granite or quartz countertops — if you don’t already have them. “It changes the whole complexion of the kitchen when we go with the granite countertops, and we have the under-mount sink.”
Janet Lorusso, a professional interior designer with over 30 years of experience, agrees. “Quartz is a nice alternative to get the marble look without the maintenance.”
Granite countertops vary between about $40 per square for lower-grade granite and $100 per square foot for higher-grade granite, plus installation costs. The national average to purchase and install granite countertops is $3,300, according to HomeAdvisor — a small price to pay compared to a full kitchen remodel, which stacks up to an average of $26,969.
Lorusso says another easy and inexpensive upgrade to the kitchen is painting the cabinets a different color. “Paint hides a multitude — from the ubiquitous dated honey oak that builders dumped in every home in the late 20th century, to fussy glazed finishes.” A fresh coat of paint can add an average of $10,184, according to HomeLight’s survey.
Improved curb appeal, outdoor and garden spaces
To attract more buyers and higher offers, 48% of agents recommend sellers make outdoor improvements, such as adding or fixing up your home’s back patio, porch, or deck.
Smith says covered back patios are particularly popular among buyers these days, “because a lot of people like to sit out there, drink coffee, get a little of the sunset, then if there’s a great backyard they like to watch the kids out there play, and they still have an area that’s covered to keep them out of the sun.”
Backyard decks and highly usable front porch areas have gained popularity in recent years, especially since the pandemic. On average, you can build a deck for around $3,600 to $7,200.
Dedicated remote work areas
In our End of Year 2024 survey, 38% of agents say a dedicated remote work area is the most appealing to buyers in their markets.
When a buyer goes shopping for a home, they are obviously looking at the total square footage of a house. If your home has an unfinished basement or attic, these spaces are typically not included in the promoted square footage of a house. However, if you stage them to show how they can be used as a home office, they can give your property a significant boost of buyer appeal.
Energy efficiency features
In August to September 2024, 23.4% of people in the United States were unable to pay their energy bill, according to Census.gov. This supports why many top agents say homebuyers are increasingly prioritizing energy efficiency in their home search. Solar panels are among the energy-efficient items that can help promote a listing.
According to the National Association of Home Builders, here are some other features buyers want in a home when it comes to energy efficiency:
- ENERGY STAR-rated windows and appliances, such as the Samsung Stainless Steel Top Freezer Refrigerator with All-Around Cooling and the Whirlpool electric dryer with Wrinkle Shield.
- Energy-efficient lighting that uses less energy than traditional bulbs, such as Sylvania LED lightbulbs and Philips Indoor CFL Lightbulbs.
- ENERGY STAR rating for the whole house.
Upgraded primary bath
For 94% of agents surveyed, modernizing the bathroom or kitchen is the top upgrade that sellers can focus on to make their homes more appealing to the market. When it comes to renovating the primary bath, in particular, there is a demand for a luxury experience.
Tread lightly when it comes to hitting that luxurious feel, however. The 2024 Cost vs Value report shares that a midrange bathroom remodel has a 73.7% ROI while an upscale remodel has a 45.1% ROI. Go for features that show a visual improvement to the primary bath without necessarily spending all your renovation budget on this area of the home.
Laurel Davies, a top-selling agent in Sacramento, California, says newer systems help sell a home. This includes a new water heater, fresh paint, and flooring. She also emphasizes the importance of cleanliness.
Features that lower insurance premiums
Another key feature buyers want in their home in 2025 is an advanced home security system. Aside from the benefit of making homeowners feel safer in their new home, this feature can also lower insurance rates by $100 a month on average. For 21% of sellers surveyed by HomeLight, low homeowners insurance rates due to resilient features is the strongest selling point in their market.
Pairing your advanced home security system with energy efficient features and appliances will further increase the marketability of your home in any market.
When is the best time to remodel?
Conventional wisdom leads many to believe that the spring is the best season to sell a house. But that is not always the case. To make sure you are striking when the market is most active, take advantage of HomeLight’s Best Time to Sell Calculator. Our tool closely inspects local real estate transaction data, analyzes trends from years past, and crunches the data to show you the ideal time to put your house on the market in your area.
If you’re selling during the winter — when sales are typically slower — make sure to present the house as well-lit, safe, and as inviting as possible. There are a few upgrades you can make to ensure this: well-placed lighting (don’t forget to replace your lightbulbs!) at the front of the house, new home numbers and mailboxes, and a fresh coat of paint on your front door.
And if your plan is to sell in spring, focus on exterior projects, especially on curb appeal — landscaping that highlights all the flora in bloom will make a big impact.
Work With a Top Agent To Devise the Best Selling Strategy
To make sure you’re undertaking upgrades that will make you money when you sell your home, work with a top local agent in your area and let their expertise be your guide.
A few final helpful tips to sell your home
In our 2024 End of Year Top Agent Insights Survey, agents recommend sellers sweeten the deal for buyers in these ways:
- 73% of agents are advising sellers to be more willing to negotiate on contingencies and terms
- 52% suggest offering flexible financing incentives
- 31% recommend providing home warranties or pre-inspection reports to ease buyer concerns
- 18% recommend sellers include home improvement allowances in their listing
Find a top-selling agent in your area
When it comes to what buyers want in a home, Smith says he works hard to create realistic expectations based on buyers’ wants, needs, and budget, “so that when we’re out there, it’s not a fairy tale.” This is a quality of a top real estate agent, and it will not only benefit the buyer but also the seller of the home they choose. Before deciding which upgrades and renovations are worth your time and money, be sure to consult with a top real estate agent in your area.
You need a real estate agent who has years of experience working in your area, has the best local services on speed dial, and knows what new buyers want in your neighborhood. HomeLight’s data shows that the top 5% of real estate agents across the U.S. sell homes for as much as 10% more than the average real estate agent. To find you the best agent based on your unique needs, we analyze over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews.
Writer Jessica Cody contributed to this story.
Header Image Source: (Mike / Pexels)
- "Real Estate Forecast Summit," National Association of Realtors (December 2024)
- " Top Agent Insights for End of Year 2024," HomeLight (December 2024)
- "How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? [2025 Data]," Angi (December 2024)
- "How much does it cost to build a deck?," HomeGuide (July 2024)
- "Are there home insurance discounts for security systems?," PolicyGenius (May 2024)
At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.
