A separate shower in the master bath was listed as one of the most desirable features sought in a home by 36% of recent home buyers surveyed for the 2004 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Buyers Home Feature Preferences study. An eat-in kitchen was mentioned by 32% of those surveyed. Suburban homebuyers in particular said they preferred eat-in kitchens.

Even larger percentages of survey participants indicated central air conditioning, a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, a bedroom on the main level, a patio or oversized garage, cable or satellite TV-ready home and fencing were most desirable in a home. A porch was ranked higher than an eat-in kitchen by respondents.

Extra bathrooms and laundry rooms were rated as very important by more than 70% of respondents.

First-time homebuyers planned to remodel the kitchen within two years according to 22% of those respondents, and 20% reported similar intentions for the bathroom. Among repeat homebuyers, 11% said they wanted to remodel the kitchen within two years and 14% had similar plans for the bathroom.

The median age of a home was 15 years. Typically, it had four bedrooms, two full baths and a fireplace.

The 2004 National Association of Realtors Profile of Buyers Home Feature Preferences was based on a six-page questionnaire mailed to a national sample of 25,000 recent homebuyers who purchased their homes between mid-2003 and mid-2004. It generated 1,470 usable responses; the response rate was 5.9%. A copy of the report can be ordered by calling 800-874-6500.

For more information, visit www.realtor.org.