Today’s buyers say they want it all: a high-performance, all-electric, connected, and healthy home. But COGNITION Smart Data reveals that when forced to prioritize, one feature stands out above the rest.
Outdoor living spaces take the number one spot.
Overall, nearly 23% of consumers selected outdoor spaces as their most desired feature.
But that preference shifts depending on who you ask. For example, homeowners lean slightly toward smart technology (22%), whereas renters show a strong preference for outdoor living, with 26% ranking it as their top priority, pointing to a desire for access to space and nature that may be lacking in their current environments.
Generational differences add another layer. Boomers and Gen Z both rank outdoor spaces as their top choice, an interesting alignment between two groups at very different life stages. For Millennials, outdoor living comes in second behind all-electric features.
Gen X stands apart, prioritizing smart technology to enhance the operational efficiency of their spaces, with outdoor spaces ranking among their lowest preferences.
Even with these differences, outdoor living consistently emerges as a top priority across the board. The “why” behind this trend is just as important as the data itself. Access to outdoor space is increasingly tied to both physical and mental well-being. In fact, according to COGNITION Smart Data, 89% of builders report that homebuyers believe outdoor living spaces are important to their overall health.
Behavior supports this sentiment. COGNITION Smart Data shows that 90% of homeowners use their outdoor space at least once per week, with nearly half using it four or more times weekly. What was once considered a “bonus feature” has become an integral part of everyday living.
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