The increasing emotional value of ‘home’

The pandemic has shined a bright spotlight on housing in general. Residential real estate has become both more functional (move-in ready is critical to most buyers today..close the sale, get the keys, move in and start living!)  and more emotional. Consumers aren’t just searching for a house; they’re seeking “home.”

While the pandemic has confined us to our homes to the point where we’ll do anything for a change of scenery, it has also pointed out how many things a home can be for us:
Home is shelter.
Home is safety.
Home is family.
Home is school, the gym, the movie theater, the best local restaurant.

Consumers appreciate “home” more than ever, and they have a more three-dimensional view of what they want their homes to be. Even with the low inventory levels, buyers do not want to compromise the picture they have of what they want in their next “home”.