Most Homebuyers Would Sacrifice Square Footage For A Bigger Yard

Many home seekers want tightly-packed, dense urban neighborhoods. Others want a bit more space.

According to Proud Green Home, a recent survey on behalf of Taylor Morrison found that 56 percent of prospective homebuyers would sacrifice a larger home for more space for their yard.

Plus, when asked to name the most important exterior feature of a potential home, roughly half of Millennial and non-Millennial buyers said that a proper distance from neighboring homes is key. Space between homes was found to be more important than other curb appeal features including siding, paint colors, and roofing finishes.

Outdoor living has become a higher priority for buyers and homeowners. Per the survey, the largest share of respondents said that if they were given an extra $15,000, they would spend it on outdoor living features rather than interior upgrades.

Interest in more outdoor space is stronger among women than it is men, with roughly two in three women (62 percent) preferring less home square footage and larger yards, compared to a little more than half (51 percent) of men. Survey results suggest more yard is a consistent desire across parents and non-parents alike, as well as across generations.

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