Gone are the days of endlessly scrolling through real estate listings on Zillow, filtering solely by location and budget. The real estate hub has further expanded its search capabilities, allowing locations to be searched by commute time and nearby schools, as well as specific features such as solar panels and induction cooktops. Some of its users have even searched for things as strange as “roller coaster” and “laser tag.” No judgment. Despite these extremely unique requests, many 2024 homebuyers had overlapping priorities. Here are four of the most searched home features of the year.
Ranch style homes
Home buyers in 2024 loved the idea of no longer having to walk up and down stairs. When it came to architectural styles, ranch homes led the way for their charm and single-story convenience, followed by mid-century modern and modern designs. The results made us look back at designer Amber Sokolowski's sweet Southern California home, which she gave significant curb appeal by painting the exterior in Dunn-Edwards' Black Tie style.
Lakeside retreats and cabins
The pandemic sparked a hype around scenic getaways, and it hasn't died down yet. Searches for lakefront retreats and cabins continued to be strong this year. Regarding the destination Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Lake Tahoe, Nevada; and Long Island, New York, topped the list, alongside lakefront favorites like Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota; Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri; and Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia. Requests for “barndominiums” (barn-shaped homes with large, open floor plans) and horse properties didn’t take long to follow.
Flexible living spaces
Zillow's data team noticed a growing interest in flexible living spaces, particularly duplexes and lofts, the latter of which could be achieved in any room with high ceilings with a ladder and a little creativity.
Garages and terraces
A swimming pool is all well and good, but what people care about most is where they keep the things they want to keep dry: the garage. The search for patios has also been in high demand, and we know that even a simple concrete patio can serve as an oasis with the right outdoor rug and furniture.