More than one-third (36 percent) of house hunters say a “clean” home — one with high-end filtration systems for air, water, etc.—is one of the top three most important features in the next place they live. This is according to a recent survey commissioned by Redfin.
That makes it the most common priority for prospective homebuyers, along with security systems (38 percent rank that a top three priority, statistically equal to the 36 percent for clean homes), out of a list of 22 features.
This is based on a Redfin survey conducted by Ipsos in May, fielded to 4,000 residents. These specific findings focus on the roughly 1,000 respondents who are planning to move within the next 12 months.
Clean homes and security systems outrank every other feature Redfin asked about, by a longshot. Views come in third, with 25 percent of prospective buyers saying they’re a top priority, followed by smart-home technology (20 percent). Backup power generation — such as solar panels or generators — round out the top five, with 19 percent of house hunters ranking it as a top three priority.
Climate resilient upgrades or features are also fairly important to prospective buyers, with one in seven (14 percent) ranking it as one of their top considerations. Features that take health and climate risks into account are ranked higher than luxurious upgrades like home theaters (7 percent), outdoor kitchens (10 percent) or tennis courts (4 percent).
The findings come as smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires blanketed much of the eastern half of the U.S. last week, reminding Americans that environmental hazards can reach their homes even when they live far from an active wildfire. More than 100 million people across 18 states and Washington, D.C. were under air quality alerts as of July 17, with parts of Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan recording the worst air quality in the nation. New York and much of New England are also experiencing unhealthy air.
While the survey wasn’t conducted in response to last week’s wildfire and smoke emergency, the results underscore a broader trend, according to Redfin. Prospective homebuyers are placing a premium on features that help create a healthier indoor environment. High-end air and water filtration systems can help reduce exposure to smoke and other pollutants, while growing interest in climate-resilient upgrades suggests buyers are increasingly looking for homes that can better protect them from the impacts of extreme weather and environmental risks.
“As wildfire smoke becomes more common, filtered indoor air is becoming a must-have rather than a nice-to-have,” Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather said in a release. “Homebuyers are already looking for homes that can protect their families during smoke events. And I expect that in the near future, buyers searching for single-family homes will also be looking for larger homes with versatile indoor space, where they can entertain themselves when smoke forces them inside. House hunters looking for condos may prioritize indoor amenity spaces, like gyms or event rooms.”
People have generally become increasingly concerned about climate change in recent years, and they report experiencing the impacts of it in personal ways, like living with extreme weather and/or polluted air.
Nearly two in five (37 percent) millennial house hunters say a clean home, i.e., one with water or air filtration systems, is a top three priority for their next home, putting it at number one (tied with security systems). Backup power generation (20 percent) and climate-resilient upgrades (15 percent) are also in the top 10 for millennials.
An even higher share of Gen Zers, 40 percent, rank clean homes as a top priority. It’s topped only by security systems (42 percent).
Clean homes are also important for Gen Xers, with 25 percent saying it’s a top priority, ranking after security systems (32 percent). For baby boomers, views are at the top of the list (47 percent rank them as a top priority)—but clean homes do come in third (35 percent), after security systems (40 percent).