Short List
Where to Hang Your Hat
Regional differences might have a bigger impact on what homebuyers want than you might have thought. A recent study by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) found that residents of different regions have very different desires when it comes to design features, building materials, price and financing.
Regional price differences are not necessarily related to a homes size, the report finds. New England is home to the nations most expensive new homes, but those houses also ranked among the smallest, with a median size of 2,240 square feet.
When it comes to home building materials, the most common type of siding in the U.S. is vinyl, which is used in close to 31 percent of new single-family homes started in 2013, with brick following at nearly 24 percent. Regional variations in home siding are significant, however, with vinyl dominating in the Northeast and Midwest, brick in the South, and stucco as the top choice for new single-family homes in the West.
The NAHB report says 58 percent of the homes built in the U.S. last year had two or more stories. Outside the home, porches ranked as the most popular feature nationwide, but patios dominate the West South Central region and are just as common in the West. Despite a decline in popularity nationwide, decks remain a top choice for single-family homes built in New England, where 63 percent of new homes are built with a deck.
| $400,000 | Median sale price of a new single-family home in New England. |
| $221,000-$223,000 | Median sale price of a new single-family home in East South Central and West South Central regions, respectively. |
