Supply meets new demands; updated kitchens, energy savings key

Today’s Maricopa homebuyers are looking for properties with open floor plans, updated kitchens and energy efficiency, prompting homebuilders to design houses to meet their wish lists.

Features, such as neatly manicured yards, a neutral paint palette and clean flooring remain important, real estate experts say. However, today’s buyers are paying more attention to the details. Kitchen backsplashes, richly colored cabinets, granite counter tops and tile floors are just a few of the finishes topping the list.

“I have noticed that buyers’ expectations with appliances have risen, whereas a few years ago, if the appliances weren’t up to par, it was like ‘OK, I can switch them out,’” said Anthony Kamouzis, owner of Prudential One Realty in Maricopa.

Stainless steel appliances also are among the most common upgrades new homebuyers select in their houses, said Jim Belfiore, owner of Belfiore Real Estate Consulting, a residential and market research firm. Today’s new homebuyers on average in Maricopa put about $21,000 of upgrades into their homes, he said.

Derek Anglin, assistant vice president and designated broker for Elliott Homes, said his company is in the process of a design review with the city of Maricopa and plans are nearly completed. The company is preparing to start selling new homes in November in the Santa Rosa Springs community, after nearly six years of waiting for the housing market to recover.

Belfiore said there are currently 11 new-home subdivisions with houses for sale in Maricopa. In 2006, there were 59, and just more than a year ago, that number was only three.

As builders gear up to prepare for the steady increase in new homebuyers, they are making changes to accommodate their customers’ needs.

This time around, the homes are going to have greater energy efficiency, larger bedrooms and more of an open feel, Anglin said. “We are going away from compartment-alized rooms, where you’d see a dining room separate from a family room,” Anglin said. “Now we are creating a much more open feel, so now our den has double doors that you can see into; our bedrooms are a little bigger than they used to be and walk-in closets are much more common, so it’s just a bit more roomy.”

He adds, “We’re noticing more buyers willing to spend more for tile in the great room areas, so there is less maintenance.”

Buyers on a tighter budget are opting for a textured vinyl that looks like wood but comes with a much lower price tag and can be repaired easily by replacing a section.

For Sheryl Moore, who purchased her Maricopa Meadows home in late August, the kitchen appliances were a top priority. Moore said the stainless steel appliances, glass cook top and swimming pool sold her on her house.

“I love my appliances … and the way it’s arranged toward the den area with the island, it’s really convenient,” Moore said.

Danielle Collazo, who owns Maricopa business Adobe Blinds and More, said despite the changing preferences of many buyers, her customers have remained fairly traditional when it comes to window coverings.

“Shutters remain the No. 1 choice,” she said. “They are child safe, energy efficient and easy to clean.”

But even shutters have evolved over time, Collazo said. Manufacturers are now offering plantation shutters with a hidden tilt rod to offer more unobstructed views through windows, while also providing a more contemporary look. The tilt rod is the long stick that typically runs down the front center of shutters to open and close them.

“Not a lot of people are trending toward the curtains anymore,” Collazo said. “They want something neat and clean, so that’s what we’ve been seeing.”

The other important aspect of window coverings, is energy efficiency, Collazo said. Buyers care about lowering their electric bill, taking advantage of federal tax credits and keeping their homes insulated. Cellular shades are a product that offers high-energy efficiency, Collazo said, and certain types of cellular shades offer more energy efficiency than other products in the marketplace.

“Homes are much more energy efficient today than they were before, and homebuyers are more sophisticated on that front,” Belfiore said. “If they’re not, the salesperson is going to educate them on energy efficiency.”