Here are a few examples of top priorities for both sets of homebuyers:

• Consumers are embracing colors other than white or brown for kitchen cabinets. This may be because repainting and re-fronting cabinets is perceived as a relatively small investment for a big impact on the look and feel of a kitchen. Meanwhile, all-white kitchens are still popular.

• Repeat buyers want bigger laundry rooms. This room has morphed into more of a multipurpose utility space, and it’s not the only room expected to play multiple roles. Buyers want to customize their homes to their preferences: For example, dining room/office combinations are popular, and table space for eating in the kitchen ranked high for first-time homebuyers.

• Indoor/outdoor connections are trending across the country. California started this trend due to its temperate climate, but it’s spreading across the country in regionally adapted ways. Ruthroff says indoor/outdoor connections can be scaled up or down for all buyers and doesn’t require a picture-perfect view, but he advised builders to be smart about it. For example, connect porches to kitchens instead of living rooms to make outside cooking easily accessible.

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