People Aren’t Buying Homes, They’re Buying Lifestyles
Charlotte realtor Alison Aston shares insights on shifting priorities and common look-fors in today’s house hunting landscape.
As young people and existing homeowners alike set out to build or buy their next home, they’re not necessarily picturing a dream house. Rather, their criteria are based on their dream lifestyle, and the details of the home follow from there. We talked with Charlotte real estate expert Alison Aston about what those lifestyle qualities most often entail.
How do people go about prioritizing what they want in their new homes?
A lot comes down to the buyer or builder’s current family situation. With children, the number-one priority is about what school system they want to be located in, or which private schools they prefer to be near. Current family situation is also going to dictate the size of the home including how many bedrooms they need, and how much lot space they might want.
The other big look-for is proximity to work. A lot of people are coming out of COVID realizing they don’t want to return to a lifestyle that demands a forty-plus minute commute each way. It’s a quality of life issue, to be stuck in the car or on public transport for such a big portion of the day.
Relatedly, many people have received the news in the last few months that they’ll have the opportunity to stay remote, at least part-time. That’s where we see moves from out of state especially, with people who are looking for an urban environment at an affordable price. Also, since they’ll most likely be working from home, at least some of the time, people are looking for homes that have a home office or building one.
Why do people want to live in an urban environment?
The big draw of living in an urban environment is the ease of lifestyle. Everything is at your fingertips!
That’s why we’re seeing such a rise in live/work/play communities, where new lots and developments are intentionally placed right near larger office complexes, and where developers are designing buildings with attractive amenities like climbing walls and dog spas. Having resources and amenities close by just makes residents’ quality of life that much better and saves a lot of time!
Areas that traditionally haven’t been as popular are using that strategy to build micro-neighborhoods near corporate office spaces. There’s a mix of housing options from apartments and townhomes to single family homes, all in one place and within walking distance to restaurants, salons, and shops. It helps to have quick access to open spaces and parks too, since people want to be active and outdoors.
When everything you need is right there, it doesn’t matter too much whether the area was always popular.
What specific priorities are you seeing from buyers lately?
Outdoor and yard space is becoming a top priority. We’ve seen a huge increase in demand for pools and a general expansion on what people want in their outdoor space. It’s much more common now than ever before to put in outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, lounge areas, bocce courts, you name it!
I also see the younger generation placing a larger priority on sustainability. It’s common for them to add solar panels, request chickens, and ensure they’re buying enough yard space for gardening. There’s definitely a mindset shift going on around the role we can all play in protecting the environment.
Plus, pets - especially dogs - have become very central to people’s lifestyles, which impacts lot requirements as well.
What’s changed about priorities indoors?
Indoors, I’m seeing people moving away from open floor plans because multiple people are working and attending school from home. Now, people need multiple offices and flex space that feels private enough to focus or take separate work meetings.
We’re also seeing an increase in in-law suites, ADUs (accessory dwelling unit) or added apartments above the garage. It’s important for people to make sure that extended family can come stay with them, after all the separation and difficulty traveling that everyone has gone through now.
There’s been a recentering and refocus on the kitchen. It’s always been a focal point, but there’s more care and planning directed toward kitchen design and updates now. Especially when it comes to new kitchen technology, people really look for functionality and ease.
The sense of personalization we see now is really unlike anything else we’ve seen before. We’ve all had to spend more time with family and at home, so we see the importance and priority of making sure it matches the life we truly want.
How do you advise your buyers in a seller’s market like we’re experiencing now?
In initial conversations with clients, I always discuss budget and location requirements. That narrows our options down quite a bit!
Sometimes, location preferences make it very clear that building will be our best bet. Because of the competitiveness of the market, people are generally more open to doing large renovation projects or custom building with Atmos. I always present all potential options, because there’s a wide variety in the purchasing or building experience and home people are looking for. Some people still shy away from custom because they see it as a lot of decision-making, whereas lots of buyers can only find that level of personalization and their priorities met if they opt for a custom home.
Overall, the level of patience and appreciation for the building process have definitely increased. More people are embracing the process and learning about the possibilities, and the more educated they get about the timing, the less of a barrier it becomes.
At the end, the conversation comes down to, “what do I want my life to look like?” Once we get clear on that, we’re able to find or build the home that can meet all the most important needs for that buyer.
Ready to get started building a lifestyle that feels true to you? Begin the journey to your Atmos home today!
