Forget about those media rooms, wine cellars and home spas — the hottest item for buyers in a COVID-19 world is a home office.
With millions of Americans now working at home, house hunters are looking for more room to hang their work hats.
Almost half of home shoppers nationwide say they have converted a space at home into a remote office, according to a new study by Realtor.com.
And more than 60% of potential homebuyers say that working at home is influencing the kind of house they want and the location.
“The ability to work remotely is expanding home shoppers’ geographic options and driving their motivation to buy, even if it means a longer commute, at least in the short term,” Realtor.com senior economist George Ratiu said in the new report. “Although it’s too early to tell what long-term impact the COVID-era of remote work will have on housing, it’s clear that the pandemic is shaping how people live and work under the same roof.”
Local real estate agents say that buyers are looking at larger homes and that room for an office can be a must.
“I have seen more buyers looking home offices in their next home purchase and even floor plans with options for two homes offices for couples and families,” said Dallas agent David Bush.
A home office was the most chosen new home feature, according to a Realtor.com June survey.
“It is a required room,” said Marty Marks with Ebby Halliday Realtors. “If there’s not one already there, we need an extra bedroom or buyers will convert the formal dining room into an office.”
Nearly 40% of currently employed home shoppers Realtor.com surveyed nationwide said they are currently working from home as a result of COVID-19.
Half of the homebuyers included in the survey said they do the majority of their work in a home office.
Given a choice, more than half of the people working from home said they prefer a remote workspace.