Aside from great neighborhoods, great schools, and great locations (the perennial must-have features for most homeowners), many people don’t know what else to look for as they browse through various houses for sale. Often, square footage and price are given such high priority that house hunters overlook other important features.

If you are searching for Philadelphia homes for sale, then here are four popular features that buyers should be on the lookout for.

Homes with no problems with electricity or plumbing
Despite the popularity of reality shows about house flipping, the era of the fixer upper is fading fast. According to the National Association of REALTORS, roughly 34% of recent buyers who bought new homes were looking to avoid dealing with any serious plumbing or electrical issues at all costs. Though these are important factors of a fully functioning home, it’s best to find properties that have new or recently replaced plumbing, electrical, and appliances. This way, you don’t have to worry about spending money on unnecessary repairs in the near future.

Luxury homes
Though homeowners enjoy working on a few home improvement projects throughout their time as a property owner, they would much prefer making these decisions on their own terms — not out of necessity. As a result, luxury homes are particularly popular right now. Although “luxury” can be an overused term in the real estate world, it generally means new homes with upscale amenities, fixtures, and appliances. In addition, luxury homes are usually located in private neighborhoods in a prime location.

Energy-efficient properties
According to Zillow data, about 48% of all recent home buyers who were interested in newer luxury homes stated that “energy-efficiency” was their most desired home feature. As more and more millennials break into the home buying market, there will likely be an even larger shift to luxury homes with smarter, greener technology.

Homes that have never been lived in
Another popular feature that home buyers are searching for nowadays is originality. According to Zillow, 48% of home buyers are looking for properties that have never been lived in before. This is a popular trend because people feel much more personally connected to and invested in a property because it’s specifically for them. At a time when housing supply is low, new builds are often the place to start when browsing Philadelphia homes for sale.

Ultimately, everyone’s must-have list of home features will look different. As long as you know what kind of property you’re looking for, you should end up getting a great home for you and your family. If you’re in the middle of your search for quality real estate and want to check out some luxury homes in Philadelphia, contact West End Walk today.