The real estate landscape is shifting in 2026, and if you’re looking to buy or sell, it’s important to stay on top of what’s valuable in a house. Whether it’s the new definition of “starter home” or the psychology behind a room’s paint colors, real estate trends are the key to a house that sells.
The Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate team surveyed buyers and agents to determine exactly what people want in a home in 2026 and identified six trends that define major changes in the real estate landscape.
1. “Starter Home” Has a Whole New Meaning
The term “starter home” used to mean just that—a home that might be smaller, outdated, or with fewer features than you’d prefer. However, in a real estate market where “starter” homes don’t necessarily have matching price tags, buyers have become more specific about their wants.
Flexible layouts, stylish design choices, storage space, and updated features are all things that starter home buyers look for, alongside suitable price points. But it’s the personal and emotional connection a potential buyer feels to a new home that drives the modern starter home purchase the most. Today, younger starter home buyers want a house that fits their lifestyle and needs.
“The starter homes people fall in love with aren’t always the biggest,” says Ginger Wilcox, president of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. “They’re the ones that instantly feel welcoming, the ones with the small, intentional touches, like natural light, a thoughtful layout, or a cozy spot outside, that make a house feel like home.”
2. Paint Colors Are Key to Selling a Home
We know that today’s home buyers look for a house that they can emotionally connect with. One major driver of how a space makes you feel is the color it’s been painted, and calming colors can influence how well you connect with a new home.
Calming neutrals, including cream, gray, and beige, remain the top sellers. A blank slate feels relaxing and open, allowing your imagination to roam free when you consider yourself living in a new home. Speaking of tranquil hues, the BHGRE Color of the Year is Calming Coastal Blue, which inspires relaxation and positivity. Soft, welcoming blue shades were preferred by 52% of survey respondents. Garden green and terra cotta neutrals were the next two favorite buyer tones.
Earthy colors are another major trend that may make you feel more connected to a new potential home. “I think perhaps the biggest design movement for 2026 is going to be something about returning to the earth in all aspects of the sense,” Bengtson says. “I’m talking about natural color palettes drawn straight from the earth, especially the warmer, muddier hues like terra cotta, olive green, muddy brown, and earthy grays.”
Paint color can break a home sale just as fast as it can make one; 86% of agents say that bright neon colors might stop a sale. The same goes for custom paint jobs—such as murals or themed rooms—so if you’re getting ready to sell, it’s time to say goodbye to these aspects of your home.
3. Social Media Inspires Buyers
Social media plays a major role in what buyers want in a home. When hundreds of thousands of stylish homes are right at your fingertips, it’s much easier to find a particular style or feature you just have to have.
For many buyers, the realization that they are able to DIY a favorite social media trend in their own home plays a major role in how they see a new home. On one hand, social media means that buyers are looking for specific home features that are popular online, like walk-in pantries and custom built-ins. On the other hand, the Internet also makes potential buyers more confident that they have the power to add their dream features to their home later on. This creates more flexibility in what buyers are looking for in a space—if they can dream it, they might just DIY it.
4. Flexible Layouts Upstage Square Footage
In 2026, the ideal home layout is all about flexibility. Buyers are more interested in a home with a space that works for them rather than one with sheer square footage. This includes smart storage solutions, multi-purpose rooms, and a layout with good flow.
Open floor plans are still popular, but they also need to make room for the privacy that homeowners want right now. With many potential buyers working from home, the need for defined spaces that offer silence and privacy is bigger than ever. But that doesn’t mean that every space in the home should be completely closed off, either. “Smart furniture layouts, adding walls, room dividers or glass walls, and using area rugs and light fixtures to define spaces are helping designers balance openness with privacy,” Bengtson says.
The top five layout features that buyers are looking for are:
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Outdoor living extensions
5. Craftsmanship Is a Must
For many potential homeowners, the dream is in the details. Craftsmanship that feels personal, artisanal, and storied is catching the attention of buyers. In fact, there’s been a significant shift in buyers that are looking for unique and customized homes rather than minimalist blank slates. This is the case for everything from kitchens with custom tile to rooms with tactile, organic materials.
The luxuriousness and history of a home that offers detailed craftsmanship is especially important to buyers in 2026. 84% of buyers say that custom millwork is a beloved feature, 83% adore artisanal tile and stone, and 81% want statement lighting and hardware.
Also important is the integration of technology in what buyers think of as craftsmanship. This means that smart home features are a thoughtful touch that buyers truly consider when they purchase a new home. Smart home devices are a considerate addition that help protect a home and make daily life easier, while artisanal details bring storied design into play.
6. Curb Appeal Matters More Than Ever
Nearly 50% of buyers say that they won’t purchase a home if it doesn’t feel right to them as soon as they walk through the front door. The first impressions that buyers get from a home are essential, and it changes how buyers walk through the rest of the house.
The first step for a house that makes an impact on its buyers is the curb appeal. Sustainable exteriors that feature details like native plants, EV charging stations, and stylish porches and patios with plenty of seating are a few ways that buyers fall in love with a home before they even step inside. Easy-care landscaping with a modern touch also leaves a simple yet luxurious impression.
The entryway is an equally important part of a home’s curb appeal. We recommend a fresh coat of paint on the front door (and a clean, neat surrounding porch). Tasteful entryway decor like planters can have a major impact on buyers. Don’t forget to redo your house numbers and polish the hardware on your door, too. These little details signal to buyers that they’re about to walk into the home of their dreams.
Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens
