Americans want smaller Colorado Springs Homes and they are willing to strip some of the pasts most popular rooms — such as home thea ters and wine cellars– from them in order to accommodate changing lifestyles.

“This is a traumatic time in this country and the future isn’t something we’re 100% sure about now either. What’s left? The answer for most home buyers is authenticity,” said Heather McCune, director of marketing for Bassenian Lagoni Architects in Park Ridge, Ill.

“Buyers today want cost-effective architecture, plans that focus on spaces, not rooms and homes that are designed ‘green’ from the outset,” she said. The key for home builders is “finding the balance between what buyers want and the price point.”

Paul Cardis, CEO o f AVID Ratings Co., which conducts an annual survey of home-buyer preferences, said there are 10 “must” features in new homes.

1. The Kitchen is still KING

“If you’re going to spend design dollars, spend them where people want them — spend them in the kitchen,” McCune said. Granite countertops are a must for move-up buyers and buyers of custom homes.

2. Energy-Efficient Appliances, High-Efficiency Insulation and High Window Efficiency

Among the “green” features touted in homes, these are the ones buyers value most. While large windows had been a major draw, energy concerns are giving customers pause on those.

3. Home Office/Study

People would much rather have this space rather than, say, a formal dining room. “People are feeling like they can dine out again and so the dining room has become tradable,” Cardis said. And home theaters are out; we are seeing a “shift from boom to correction,” Cardis said.

4. Main-Floor Master Suite

This is a must have feature for empty-nesters and certain other buyers, and appears to be getting more popular in general. Thus upstairs laundries are on the decline after several years of popularity.

5. Outdoor Living Room

The popularity of outdoor spaces continues to grow, even in Canada, Cardis said. And the idea of an outdoor room is even more popular than an outdoor cooking area, meaning people are willing to spend more time outside.

6. Ceiling Fans

Modern ceiling fans come in such a variety and even the most feature-packed fans are hugely affordable, there is no reason NOT to have several. Plus, they can actually save you money by circulating warm or cooled air.

7. Master Suite Soaker Tubs

Whirlpools are still desirable for many home buyers, Cardis said, but “they clearly went down a notch,” in the latest survey. Oversize showers with seating areas are also moving up in popularity.

8. Stone and Brick Exteriors

Stucco and vinyl don’t make the cut.

9. Community Landscaping, With Walking Paths and Playgrounds

Forget about golf courses, swimming pools and clubhouses. Buyers in large planned developments prefer hiking among lush greenery.

10. Two-Car Garages

A given at all levels; three-car garages, in which the third bay is more often than not used for additional storage and not automobiles, is desirable in the move-up and custom categories, Cardis said.

There you have it – many of the Colorado Springs Homes that The “A” Team can show you have lots of these features included! Give us a call and you just might be surprised at the great values in on the market today