In parts of the country where it is impractical to build basements, three-car garages are preferred, Ahluwalia said, as a place for storage. People are asking for a larger than standard 21- by 22-foot garage.

Among several other observations on what people want in their new homes:

- The top five features home owners want in the kitchen are a walk-in pantry (84 percent), island work area (77 percent), special use storage (62 percent), built-in microwave (62 percent) and drinking water filtration (57 percent).

- Thirty-seven percent said they wanted their kitchens visually open to the family room, with a half wall; 34 percent want the two completely open.

- The top five bathroom features were a linen closet (91 percent), exhaust fan (88 percent), separate shower enclosure (78 percent), water temperature control (76 percent, a surprise) and a whirlpool tub (62 percent, even though less than 6 percent actually use this feature).

- Younger households prefer their washer and dryer to be located near the bedroom; older households prefer then near the kitchen.

- Brick was preferred by 44 percent of respondents as the front exterior wall material for their homes, which is "totally a function of the cost."

- Exhaust fans and exterior lighting were near the top of the Top 10 designs and features influencing the purchase of a home, a surprise. Laundry rooms and linen closets were at the very top of the list. Dining rooms were especially important for Asian households; 90 percent wanted them.

- Home owners participating in focus groups complained that builders aren't putting lights in the bedroom.

- Asked to choose between more space in the master bedroom and less in the master bath or the opposite, 69 percent chose more bedroom space. "Some of the master baths have been getting bigger than the bedrooms themselves," Ahluwalia said.

- Sixty-three percent said that they would not be willing to buy a home without a living room, but Ahluwalia predicted that living rooms will vanish from the average America house in the next five years or so.

Looking at trends for the next five years, Ahluwalia predicted growing popularity for low-maintenance, natural materials; synthetic stucco; energy efficiency; and security on the outside of the home. Inside, open space, quality features, technology and special purpose rooms are on the upswing.

Open space in the entry level of the home is "really key" and there should be a free flow of traffic, he advised.

For more information on home buyer trends, visit www.nahb.org .

- Mike Kruse

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