Philly Home Features Millennials Want Right Now

One of the most exciting parts of shopping for a home is figuring out what amenities speak to you. And for millennials purchasing property in Philadelphia, the options are endless. 

There are many ways to live in the City of Brotherly Love, from homes with modest yards to historic rowhouses and riverside condos. But when it comes to decking out the interior, there is a certain pizazz that millennials desire. 

That is why our team at Prevu Real Estate devised a guide on what features Millennials want when buying a Philadelphia home. 

Philly home features millennials want

• Modern kitchen
• Open floor plan
• Easy maintenance
• Outdoor patio or roof space
• Digitally connected homes

Modern kitchen 

It is no surprise that many millennials first focus their attention on the kitchen. 

While everyone loves ordering out, videos like the BuzzFeed Tasty and other cooking series have sparked interest in creating food from scratch. Expansive countertops, sleek cabinets, chef-grade stovetops, and stainless steel-plated refrigerators speak to many millennial buyers. And not only do they want new appliances, they want ones that help connect the home. 

Smart appliances with remote operation components are all the rage, as they help streamline tasks. Unlike older generations, millennials like to keep dining and cooking near each other. That is why kitchens with islands are so popular, and if you can fit a dedicated dining table in the kitchen, even better. 

Dining is a social experience where cooking prep is part of the fun, so millennials want more space in the kitchen and beyond. 

Open floor plan 

Many older homes come complete with distinctive beginnings and ends to each room. The kitchen is for cooking, the dining room is for eating dinner, and the living room is where people gather to watch TV at the end of the day. 

But modern homebuyers have a different vision for managing space in their homes. Many millennials desire as much usable square footage as possible, creating open, airy houses. This call for open space calls for removing walls separating the kitchen from the dining room and the dining room from the den. 

Instead, millennials look for homes where the kitchen blends into a dining space that ends in a connected den or living room. Bathrooms and bedrooms would connect to this giant room, providing privacy where needed. 

While new high-rise condos offer ample open space, most Philadelphia rowhouses come with layouts prioritizing separate rooms. Millennials with enough cash or handyman skills can knock down old designs and modernize the home. 

There is a simplistic beauty in airy spaces and sleek design, but homes with open plans serve a larger purpose. Part of what inspires a yearning for open space is that it is easier to care for than separate rooms. 

Easy maintenance

Life keeps you busy, and this is especially true for millennials managing work, social events, and family time. 

That is why millennials who are looking for a new home in Philadelphia target low-maintenance, turn key properties. Condos and townhomes with a Homeowner Association are perfect examples of this. The HOA manages the day-to-day chores many millennials balk at, from keeping the grass trimmed to cleaning up in the common area spaces. 

But not all millennials want to live in a community setting where they pay for management. Some folks want turnkey properties that are easy to take care of. Open floor plans appeal to some buyers because it eases the cleaning process, centralizing care and maintenance to the heart of the home. 

Another popular low-maintenance feature is hardwood floors, as they provide a beautiful backdrop to a home's design while making cleaning a breeze. 

Outdoor patio or roof space 

One popular trend amongst millennials is acquiring homes with ample outdoor space. 

Luckily, many homes offer outdoor space in neighborhoods like Society Hill, Fishtown, and Fairmount. Reasons vary from buyer to buyer, as some want the room to host friends and family during the summer, while others want a private place in the yard to relax, work out, or do gardening. 

From small patios to houses with a complete yard, there are plenty of options to choose from across Philadelphia. Increasingly, many millennials looking at condos lining the Delaware River waterfront compete with each other to win units with balconies. Having a private elevated retreat overlooking the scenic river is a delight for most. 

But even if the condo with the best balcony gets taken, many millennials are happy with shared roof space. These managed rooftops are popular as they come equipped with furniture, and some even offer grill pits and astroturf to simulate a day out in the sun at the Independence National Historic Park. 

Sometimes, even including a place in the car garage to park a bike is an incentive for cycling-minded millennials looking for a home. 

Digitally connected homes

Just as you can use your phone to do almost anything, many millennial homeowners expect the same of their new house. 

When buying a new development, many millennials ask questions about intelligent features to bring into the home. From Nest heating and cooling systems to lighting controlled from your phone, there are many ways to increase connectivity in the house. Improving connectivity is a way for some millennials to own climate issues. 

Instead of running an AC all day, owners can set their systems to turn on right before they come home to enjoy a cool or warm dwelling without breaking the bank to run it all day long. Some buyers even take this to the next level, asking for car-charging ports in the garage. Of course, not all homes come equipped with these functions, so buyers have to be ready to shell out money to integrate these systems. 

Beyond saving money and the environment, some buyers have esoteric asks when searching for a tech-enabled home. Some want homes with upgraded or improved electrical capacity so they can run computers that mine for bitcoin. 

Interested in buying a home in Philadelphia? Browse listings and see how much you can save with Prevu’s Smart Buyer Rebate.