What Millennials Want in Their First Home: Pizza Ovens, Wine Cellars, & More
Are you looking for a wine cellar in your first home?
If you’re like other millennial home buyers, you’re in luck – that is, if you have the extra cash to spare in the budget. 😉 From pizza ovens to steam showers (and even wine cellars), we have the deets on just which amenities first-time home buyers are looking for!
According to Zillow:
“For starter homes purchased primarily by first-time buyers, listings mentioning ‘free-standing tub,’ ‘pizza oven’ or ‘wine cellar’ sold for more than expected. This could reflect the lifestyle millennial homeowners want to live and the needs of young families.”
These Zillow stats suggest Millennials are looking for a home that feels custom and special, with refined design elements and extra special touches throughout – even if that means going over budget (which many have proven they’re willing to do).
Which features would you want in your dream home?
Let us know in the comments below!
Can you say foreclosure? Having been a homeowner for 39 years and the owner of a paid off house, it is better to live in a plain 1500 sq ft ranch than get in over your head. Life can completely change in an instant and it will.
Thanks for sharing our thoughts with us, Lana! I agree! Life can change quickly!
What do I want? Not those things. I am technically a Millennial (’88), but I wouldn’t even look at a house that had those things.
You have to clean under and behind a free-standing tub. More cabinets would be better use of space than a pizza oven. A regular shower with a decent shower head will work just fine. I don’t drink wine, and regular storage space would be more useful.
I want:
•at least 3 split bedrooms
•2 bathrooms (not jack and jill)
•at least 1,600 sq ft
•1 acre elevated lot
•not next to any body of water (flooding)
•not on major or subdivision entrance street
•not on unpaved street
•several blocks away from any school, park, clubhouse, or golf course
•no zero lot lines
•house far enough from street that someone in their car or on sidewalk can’t see inside but close enough that I don’t have to hike to get to the house
•no trees within 15 ft of the house
•slab foundation
•architectural shingles
•completely floored walk-up attic
•full mother-in-law suite with separate entrance
•backyard with a wooden fence that has the horizontal slats facing in (no climbers)
•covered back porch
•no pool or jacuzzi
•no alley access
•paved driveway
•driveway gate if long driveway
•at least a double car garage
•garage storage
•brick siding (not white, gray, or painted)
•covered front porch
•no french doors
•no double front doors
•no windows on either side of front door
•no popcorn ceilings or textured walls
•no massive windows
•no fake shutters
•8ft ceilings in every room
•white crown molding
•white baseboards
•no fireplaces
•ample unbroken wall space in living room and bedrooms
•no built-ins except maybe in bedroom closets
•at least one bedroom on the first floor if the house isn’t one level
•no tube, ring, or PAR light bulbs
•no track lighting
•no recessed lighting
•ample kitchen cabinetry (I hate Joanna Gaines’s love of taking out upper cabinets and not replacing that lost storage)
•black appliances
•refrigerator that isn’t in a corner
•oven with a window, no self-cleaning, and knobs behind the burners if it is a range
•double stainless steel sink (I hate farmhouse sinks)
•sink under a window
•no touch faucet
•faucet with separate sprayer
•no giant vent hood
•dishwasher that only exists for resale value (I won’t use it)
•no gas oven
•no glass doors on kitchen cabinets
•cherry wood cabinets
•granite kitchen countertops
•stationary kitchen island with a granite top with just storage (no oven/sink/etc)
•no gas dryer connections
•storage around washer and dryer in utility room
•space for a separate commercial freezer in utility room
•central heat and air
•18″x24″x1″ or 18″x25″x1″ ac return
•water heater inside the house
•circuit breaker panel inside the house
•whole house generator (hurricanes)
•no carpet
•no narrow staircases
•no narrow hallways
•enough turning space to move furniture
•no shower doors
•shower surround that goes up to ceiling
•brushed nickel shower head
•brushed nickel curved shower rod
•brushed nickel bath faucet with separate hot/cold knobs
•easily removable brushed nickel tub drain stopper
•brushed nickel light fixture with multiple globes facing up
•elongated white washlet with flush handle instead of button and placed immediately next to the tub/shower combo
•cherry wood vanity with at least 3 drawers (one deep drawer)
•white undermount sink (I hate bowl sinks)
•brushed nickel sink faucet with separate hot/cold knobs/handles
•wall-sized mirror
•no skylight
•no bathroom window
•interior bathrooms (tornadoes)
•linen closet in each bathroom
•linen closet in hallway
•walk-in closets that aren’t on outside walls (tornadoes)
•brushed nickel flushmount ceiling fans with multiple globes facing up
•within walking distance of public transportation and restaurants (no more than 20 minutes)
•lockable mailbox
•lockable package locker built into house
•inside bench over package locker
•monitored security system
•NO SMART HOME ANYTHING
No double back doors either.
They asked about a dream house. In reality I can compromise on several of these things. Not being next to a body of water, no trees withing 15 ft of the house, no double doors, no french doors, no pool or jacuzzi, central heat and air, no gas oven or dryer, no giant vent hood, double kitchen sinks, no corner refrigerator, undermount bathroom sinks, no outside bedroom closets, within walking distance of public transportation, and no smart home anything, however, are non-negotiable.
Thanks SO much for taking the time to share what you’d like and dislike in a new home! We sure appreciate the feedback!
This is a great list! It is pretty much exactly what we are looking for in a downsize house.
Wow! You are thorough! You gave me some great ideas and insight…so much I agree with. Thanks!
(88) here too and I agree more with your list.
I’m a millennial and these things all appeal to me. BUT they’re not something I would pay more for or nix a house over. We just bought our dream house. Right over an acre lot, 4 bedrooms, huge chef’s kitchen with granite counters and cherry cabinets (not really my thing but an upgrade from what we’ve had), huge fenced yard, jacuzzi tub, built-in dressers in our closets (a must have for us!) and a gorgeous view. We are putting in a hot tub (favorite date night activity!), cellar (we live in oklahoma), a pizza oven on our patio, a reverse osmosis water system, a wine fridge (I like my wine the perfect temp!), a Samsung family hub refrigerator, a dishwasher that actually dries my dishes and a convection oven. My dream house would also have a pool with a pool boy 🙂 A bonus room was a big deal for us though. Somewhere to put our workout equipment, kids toys, or gaming area.
Oh awesome! Congrats on your new home, Lacey! It sure sounds amazing!
Check out the Miele dishwashers. We bought one a few months ago. A bit pricey and close to 2K but it’s awesome! It dries our dishes every time and is not an energy hog. Plus…what I really love is that when it’s finished the cycle it opens by itself to vent.
You’re an old millennial tho. Lol I’m ‘89 and I like those things