In a year defined by AI innovation and shifting energy priorities, U.S. homeowners are responding in their own way—by rethinking how their homes use power, water, and natural light. Realtor.com® ‘s new 2025 Home Trends Report
According to the analysis , WaterSense Fixtures—which reduce water use by at least 20%—topped the list with a 289.6% year-over-year increase in mentions within listing descriptions. Homes featuring this certification carried a median listing price of about $628,000, underscoring their appeal in mid- to upper-tier markets. Net-Zero Ready homes (+198%) and EV Charging features (+175%) also surged, reflecting rising consumer interest in lowering utility costs and preparing for an all-electric future.
“We’re seeing homeowners prioritize features that make their properties more efficient, resilient, and self-sustaining,” said Anthony Smith, Senior Economist at Realtor.com® . “Buyers increasingly view eco-friendly upgrades as both a lifestyle choice and a smart financial investment—especially as energy costs and climate concerns become part of everyday decision-making.”
Bringing Nature Indoors The second-fastest-growing feature in 2025 was biophilic/indoor-outdoor design, up 163% year-over-year. These listings showcase expansive glass doors, interior courtyards, and living walls—architectural elements that dissolve boundaries between indoors and outdoors. The trend reflects a growing desire to bring natural light, plants, and organic materials into daily living spaces. The median list price for homes with these features was $859,000 underscoring their appeal to higher end and luxury buyers.
Another top 10 trend, outdoor low-voltage lighting, which rose 91%, supports the theme of mindful design—integrating sustainability and aesthetics while extending living spaces beyond the home’s walls.
Smarter, More Connected Homes Technology also remains a key part of home evolution. Features like Built-In Coffee Systems, Smart Lighting Scenes, and Hardwired Ethernet/Cat6 ranked among the top 15 fastest-growing trends, highlighting the lasting influence of hybrid work and digital lifestyles. Reliable connectivity and automation are now as much selling points as square footage.
“A decade ago, buyers might have asked about open floor plans or granite counters,” Smith added. “Today, they’re looking for EV chargers, high-speed wiring, and homes that can adapt. The definition of what makes a home modern has completely evolved.”
The Fastest Growing Trends (The table below highlights the 30 fastest-rising home features of the past year, ranked by how much more often they appeared in listing descriptions compared with 2024.)
Rank
Feature
% Change in Listing
Current
Median Listing
1
WaterSense Fixtures
289.6 %
Rare
$627,740
2
Biophilic / Indoor-Outdoor
162.6 %
Widespread
$858,999
3
Coastal Modern
125.6 %
Occasional
$1,275,000
4
Net-Zero Ready
100.0 %
Rare
$449,700
5
EV Charging
91.6 %
Widespread
$839,000
6
Outdoor Low-Voltage Lighting
91.1 %
Rare
$849,900
7
Home Gym
91.0 %
Widespread
$599,000
8
City Skyline Views
86.9 %
Occasional
$874,900
9
Aged Metal Accents
79.8 %
Rare
$1,700,000
10
Built-In Coffee System
72.2 %
Occasional
$916,778
11
Smart Lighting Scenes
70.1 %
Occasional
$685,000
12
Zellige Tile
68.0 %
Occasional
$1,079,000
13
Hardwired Ethernet / Cat6
66.3 %
Occasional
$497,340
14
Two-Tone Cabinetry
66.2 %
Occasional
$589,000
15
Pickleball Court
65.9 %
Widespread
$575,000
16
220V Shop Outlets
64.1 %
Occasional
$634,900
17
Tadelakt / Lime Plaster
63.7 %
Rare
$959,500
18
Gas Range with Griddle
62.8 %
Occasional
$1,350,000
19
Soundproofing / Acoustic Panels
62.1 %
Occasional
$825,000
20
Cold Plunge
61.6 %
Occasional
$1,795,000
21
Solar + Battery Backup
61.2 %
Common
$699,900
22
Fully Fenced Yard
61.2 %
Widespread
$385,000
23
ERV / HRV Ventilation
58.3 %
Rare
$780,835
24
Motorized Shades
56.6 %
Common
$999,000
25
Home Office / Zoom Room
56.5 %
Widespread
$514,990
26
Maximalist Interiors
54.8 %
Rare
$531,450
27
Folding Station / Drying Rack
53.8 %
Occasional
$645,000
28
Pickleball / Sport Court
52.0 %
Widespread
$594,995
29
Custom Built-Ins
51.8 %
Widespread
$679,999
30
Backlit Onyx / Stone
50.9 %
Rare
$3,349,000
Familiar Favorites While the fastest-growing features highlight new priorities, some classics remain in demand. Home office/Zoom rooms jumped 56.5%, and fully fenced yards and finished walkout basements continue to be among the most widely mentioned, reinforcing how remote work and multifunctional living continue to shape buyer preferences.
Fading Fashions By contrast, formal dining rooms with built-ins (-25.3%), infinity-edge pools (-24.7%), and three-car garages (-19.1%) all saw notable declines, as buyers favor modern, natural, and right-sized design choices over ornate or oversized spaces. The data suggests that overtly opulent features are giving way to simplicity and function.
The Most Common Features (The table below highlights the 10 most common home features of the past year, ranked by current prevalence in listing mentions.)
Rank
Features
% Change in Listing
Current
Median Listing Price
1
Hot Tub / Spa
1.2 %
Widespread
$475,000
2
Home Office / Zoom Room
56.5 %
Widespread
$514,990
3
Vaulted / Cathedral Ceilings
8.2 %
Widespread
$525,000
4
Finished Walkout Basement
21.4 %
Widespread
$499,900
5
Covered Patio / Loggia
14.2 %
Widespread
$486,000
6
Great Room Concept
6.3 %
Widespread
$579,900
7
Fully Fenced Yard
61.2 %
Widespread
$385,000
8
Freestanding Soaking Tub
36.3 %
Widespread
$649,900
9
Cul-de-Sac Lot
13.9 %
Widespread
$545,000
10
Luxury Vinyl Plank
26.5 %
Widespread
$399,900
Features With The Largest Year Over Year Decline (The table below highlights the 10 home features which saw the biggest year over year decline)
Rank
Features
% Change in Listing
Current
Median Listing Price
1
House Numbers / Modern Address
-34.6 %
Rare
$290,500
2
Formal Dining with Built-Ins
-25.3 %
Occasional
$499,000
3
Infinity-Edge Pool
-24.7 %
Occasional
$2,895,000
4
Three-Car Garage
-19.1 %
Widespread
$672,997
5
Old-World European
-18.4 %
Common
$612,400
6
Tongue-and-Groove Ceilings
-17.5 %
Common
$675,000
7
Curbless Walk-In Shower
-16.6 %
Widespread
$472,900
8
Triple-Pane Windows
-14.9 %
Occasional
$543,250
9
Wine Vault (Temperature Controlled)
-13.8 %
Occasional
$2,700,000
10
Cool Roof / Reflective Roof
-11.3 %
Rare
$663,950
A Data-Driven Look At The Market Realtor.com’s analysis is grounded in real-time housing data—tracking the language used in millions of active for-sale listings throughout 2025. Each feature’s growth rate reflects how often it was highlighted by sellers year over year, offering an objective view into which design and lifestyle trends are being promoted in the market.
Features were also categorized by prevalence—from Widespread to Rare—to provide context on scale and accessibility. Because rare features start from a smaller base, their rapid growth rates can signal emerging trends that may become mainstream in future years.
– more at azbigmedia.com
