In this month’s (January 2021) Flash Survey, members of Virginia REALTORS^® told us what home features and neighborhood amenities prospective home buyers are looking for. COVID-19 has changed the home-buying environment in so many ways, and REALTORS^® say that, in many cases, the pandemic has changed the types of homes that buyers are looking for. We received responses from 1,004 REALTORS^®, including 870 members that had worked with a homebuyer in January.

Highlights from the January 21-24 survey include the following:

• Dedicated home offices and high-speed internet were the two features most in demand from buyers in January. Nearly 7 in 10 REALTORS^® said that compared to last year at this time, homebuyers were more likely to be looking for a home with a home office. About 6 and 10 said that high-speed internet access was more of a priority than it was last year. With more people working remotely and learning virtually as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it makes sense that more buyers would be looking for homes that can better accommodate working from home.
• Outdoor space was another feature buyers were looking for. More than half of REALTORS^® (54%) said that the buyers they are working with now are more likely to be interested in homes with large yards. As COVID-19 has kept families at home, having more outdoor space is a natural desire.
• According to REALTORS^®, condominiums are less attractive to buyers in January than they were a year ago. About 4 out of 10 REALTORS^® said that buyers are less likely to be looking for a condo now than they were last year. This reflects the desire during the pandemic for more space and a slight shift from urban locations.
• Neighborhoods with amenities within walking distance still hold a strong appeal. More than 65% of REALTORS^® said that their buyers are still interested in walkable neighborhoods, and 22% said that buyers are more likely now than they were a year ago to want a home in a walkable neighborhood.

A note about surveys: This is not a randomized sample survey of Virginia REALTORS^® members. However, the number of responses and the geographic coverage of respondents make it possible to draw conclusions about the population of Virginia REALTORS^® working with homebuyers in January 2021, with a certain level of confidence. The statistics from this survey have a margin of error of +/- 3.5%.

Virginia REALTORS^® reports on the economy and housing market in Virginia. New information is updated on the Virginia REALTORS^® website. A new Flash Survey will be sent out at the end of each month. For more information, please contact Chief Economist Lisa Sturtevant, PhD (lsturtevant@virginiarealtors.org).