Good news for realtors, builders and outdoor living marketers was shared in a recent article in the Wall Street Journal. As the housing market continues to improve, more homes are being “pitched as ‘perfect for entertaining.’” And, these homes are listed for 30 percent more than homes that lack entertaining spaces and the corresponding verbiage in their listings.

It appears that as the economy gets better, sellers are capitalizing on the emotional connections that can be made between buyers and their imagined lives when shopping for a new home.

So, what makes a home “perfect for entertaining?”

First, the home should have an open floor plan and fewer walls. Many new homes are built with open floor plans connecting the kitchen to the living space, which allows the hosts to finish up meal prep while their guests relax on the nearby sofa. In warmer, more affluent areas like Los Angeles, outdoor gourmet kitchens and pools with swim-up bars are popular selling points. Across the country, outdoor spaces such as decks and courtyards are still top features for casual entertaining around fire features – from outdoor kitchens to fire pits – by the pool or in the garden.

This trend is good news for brands and companies that exist in the home arena. The topic provides a strong – and searchable – storyline for public relations and content marketing, so be sure to keep your eye on this trend and find ways to pitch your own ‘perfect for entertaining’ story.