What homebuyers are searching for this spring

Instead of May flowers, perhaps April showers can bring more homes to the market this spring.

Specifically, three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes, which are all the rage this season.

According to realtor.com®, 44 percent of prospective buyers want a three-bedroom home, and 93 percent want a minimum of two bathrooms. The average buyer this spring is also looking for a home with features like a garage and updated kitchen. Twenty-seven percent named the garage as their most-wanted feature, followed by 24 percent with an up-to-date kitchen. And 20 percent of buyers desire an open floor plan in their home.

Not surprisingly, buyers 55 and older are more apt to want a ranch-style home, while millennials are most likely to be searching for a contemporary or Colonial home, though 11 percent of millennials said they didn’t have a preference on home style.

Twenty-three percent of millennials cited rising rents as a reason for buying, while 17 percent said family needs. Fourteen percent of millennials are buying because they crave stability, while 13 percent are seeking personal expression. Privacy is the most important reason for buying to those 55 and older,  followed by a desire for physical comfort at 18 percent and stability, at 15 percent.

“Although record-low inventory and high prices make this housing market unique, some classic features still top most shoppers’ wish lists,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist for realtor.com®. “At the same time, we found some clear differences in priorities. For instance, older buyers are concerned with privacy and being able to age comfortably, while millennials place more emphasis on family needs, stability and personal expression.”