Gen Z and millennial buyers increasingly view entertaining space as critical to their decisions
More than half of American adults prioritize holiday entertaining when selecting their next home, with younger generations driving the trend significantly higher than their older counterparts.
A new Realtor.com survey found that 52% of US adults said hosting Thanksgiving dinner played at least some role in their most recent home search. The ability to host the holidays and entertain is becoming a lifestyle expectation, particularly for younger buyers who don't anticipate moving again soon.
Sixty percent of Gen Z and 60% of millennials said Thanksgiving entertaining factored into their housing decisions, compared to just 30% of baby boomers and 47% of Gen X. This aligns with broader industry observations that younger buyers view homes as long-term investments and lifestyle centers, not merely shelter.
Entertaining spaces top the wish list
When it came to specific features, younger buyers proved consistent in their priorities.
A large family room (92%) and a big kitchen (92%) tied as the top motivators for potential homebuyers wanting to host the holidays, followed closely by a large dining room (86%).
Interestingly, guest bathrooms (87%) ranked nearly as high as dining space.
The findings underscore a critical insight: square footage and layout matter far more than luxury finishes. Only 12% of those surveyed deemed a double oven a must-have feature for home purchase, despite 61% calling it desirable.
The bathroom question
Preferences diverged when it came to accommodating overnight guests. Among all survey participants, nearly equal shares preferred either a spare bedroom (44%) or an extra bathroom (45%).
Yet Gen Z alone tilted decisively toward an extra bathroom (48%) over a bedroom (39%) – a preference experts attribute to practical concerns about guest comfort and household logistics during high-use periods.
This trend has broader implications for homebuilders and agents marketing properties to younger demographics.
As one real estate professional explained, "Many younger clients would love to stop renting and have a place they can call home to host holidays, family dinners and enjoy having people over to cook and entertain."
A recent Experiean survey revealed that nearly half of renters in the US expect to buy a home within the next four years. Gen Z and millennial renters were especially optimistic, with 48% and 50% respectively believing they would be ready to buy within five years.
The survey results signal a meaningful shift in how younger generations evaluate property value. They're not buying homes simply to own them – they're buying spaces designed around the life they want to live.
For mortgage professionals and real estate agents, understanding these lifestyle-driven motivations has become essential to matching buyers with properties that meet their actual needs.
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