Homebuying Preferences: What Are Must-Haves?

Would you rather live in a sprawling home in the suburbs and or a smaller home near the hustle and bustle of a city?

Clovered recently asked more than 1,000 people about their strongest homebuying preferences – and they results may surprise you.

Ultimately, 54.1% of people said they would prefer to live in a larger home in a rural area, compared to 45.9% of respondents who would choose a smaller home near an urban area. Each generation – millennials, Generation X and baby boomers – said they favored location over home quality, with baby boomers putting the most emphasis on it.

While moving to a place where you can sit on the beach year-round, or alternatively, ski year-round may sound blissful to some, the majority of people – more than 60% – said they prefer to live somewhere where they can experience all four seasons, making Pennsylvania look pretty attractive.

Once they settle on location and type of home, affordability is the top factor people are considering when researching their housing options, according to more than 60% of respondents. Crime rates are an important factor as well, reported 46.4%, while 90% said they researched crime rates in the community before moving. Commute times are another big factor, said 41.1%. The factors most people aren’t too worried about include proximity to the ocean (5.8%), arts and entertainment (6.5%) and nightlife (6.8%).

While people are willing to sacrifice for homeownership, there are always factors that they aren’t willing to bend on. More than 70% of respondents said they would not be willing to have a 45-minute-or-longer commute, while 96% said the public school system needs to score at least 8 out of 10.