{"id":27682,"date":"2026-05-07T15:15:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T22:15:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/?p=27682"},"modified":"2026-05-07T08:46:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T15:46:19","slug":"2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Homebuyers are Relying on Instinct, Comfort &#038; Connection"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Most people start a home search with a practical wish list, focused on floor plan features, space needs, and neighborhood amenities. But in 2026, the market is different, and homeowners are relying more on a home&#8217;s emotional pull to decide whether it\u2019s the \u201cright\u201d one.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to Mollie Carmichael, principal of master plan and product insights at Zonda, NewHomeSource\u2019s parent company, buyers are relying less on market timing and more on instinct, comfort, and connection.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">During a recent webinar, Carmichael presented findings from a buyer survey, including the fact that only 43% of shoppers believe it\u2019s a good time to buy. That means there needs to be a compelling reason to move, and for an increasing number of buyers, it\u2019s about emotional resonance.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Builders understand this and are creating homes, spaces, and standout features that appeal to the heart as well as the head.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>1. When the Home Loves Your Pets as Much as You Do<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For many households, pets are an important part of the family. And when a home\u2019s design acknowledges that, it hits an emotional nerve in the best way and enhances functionality for you and for Fido.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Buyers say they\u2019d pay extra for :<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>\u2022 Outdoor pet wash stations with hot and cold water. <\/em><br \/>\n<em>\u2022 Indoor pet washes. <\/em><br \/>\n<em>\u2022 Built\u2011in pet nooks or feeding areas.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">These aren\u2019t extravagant upgrades, but thoughtful touches that anticipate daily routines. When a home makes space for the beings you love most, it instantly feels more personal and more livable.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>2. When Furnished Spaces Help You Picture Real Life<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">One of the best parts of buying a new home is the chance to create the home you want, the way you want, right from day one. Having options is empowering, but also overwhelming, especially if you aren\u2019t a trained designer (which most homeowners are not).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">That\u2019s why builders are offering practical tools and support to help buyers narrow down options and feel confident in their decisions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to Carmichael, 73% of buyers say they\u2019d consider a fully or partially furnished home.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A well\u2011furnished space does something important: it helps you see how life could look there. You can picture where the sofa goes, how the dining room feels during a holiday meal, or how the morning light hits the breakfast nook.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Curated design packages offer the same sense of ease. Instead of starting from scratch, you\u2019re choosing from coordinated palettes that already feel cohesive.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You still get to personalize, but with guided inspiration from the pros, one of the best benefits of buying brand new.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>3. When a Smaller Backyard Still Feels Like an Oasis<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As homes get smaller, outdoor space matters more, and it\u2019s not necessarily about size, but about usability. Nearly three\u2011quarters of buyers would consider a 15\u2011foot backyard if it\u2019s well designed, according to the Zonda survey.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A compact outdoor space can feel incredibly inviting when it includes :<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>\u2022 Cozy fireplace. <\/em><br \/>\n<em>\u2022 Covered patio. <\/em><br \/>\n<em>\u2022 Dining nook or lounge zone. <\/em><br \/>\n<em>\u2022 Strong indoor\u2011outdoor connection.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you step outside and immediately think, \u201cI\u2019d drink my morning coffee right here,\u201d that\u2019s emotional resonance at work. A small but intentional space often feels more livable than a large, undefined one.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>4. When a Multistory Home Feels Safe for The Future<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For older buyers, hesitation around stairs is rarely about today\u2014it\u2019s about tomorrow. That\u2019s why nearly half say they\u2019d consider a multilevel home if it included an elevator or was elevator\u2011ready.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The appeal isn\u2019t about planning daily use, but about reassurance for what might come.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">An elevator answers the quiet \u201cwhat if\u201d questions :<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>\u2022 What if mobility changes? <\/em><br \/>\n<em>\u2022 What if I have surgery? <\/em><br \/>\n<em>\u2022 What if I want to age here comfortably?<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When a home removes those worries, it becomes easier to picture staying long\u2011term. In land constrained markets, where multistory homes are more common, this feature can turn a \u201cmaybe\u201d into a confident \u201cyes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>5. When a Small, Unexpected Moment Makes You Smile<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sometimes the feature that sells a home isn\u2019t the kitchen or the primary suite. It\u2019s the tiny, delightful surprise you didn\u2019t expect :<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>\u2022 A reading nook tucked under the stairs. <\/em><br \/>\n<em>\u2022 A playful loft space. <\/em><br \/>\n<em>\u2022 A window seat that feels nostalgic. <\/em><br \/>\n<em>\u2022 A charming built-in that sparks joy.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">These aren\u2019t big-budget items. They\u2019re emotional anchors\u2014the moments that make a home memorable and help you picture your life there.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The Real Deciding Factor : How a Home Makes You Feel<\/strong><br \/>\nBuyers in 2026 are still practical. They compare prices, locations, and square footage. But the homes that win their hearts\u2014and ultimately their offers\u2014are the ones that feel intuitive.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newhomesource.com\/news\/home-design-trends\/from-built-in-pet-spaces-to-small-outdoor-escapes-the-small-features-that\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">From Built\u2011In Pet Spaces to Small Outdoor Escapes : The Small Features That Make A Home Feel Like &#8220;The One&#8221;<\/a> by Heather Wright | NewHome Source<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most people start a home search with a practical wish list, focused on floor plan features, space needs, and neighborhood amenities. But in 2026, the market is different, and homeowners &hellip; [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\/\">read more<\/a>]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-home-lifestyle","category-real-estate"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>2026 Homebuyers are Relying on Instinct, Comfort &amp; Connection &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"2026 Homebuyers are Relying on Instinct, Comfort &amp; Connection &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Most people start a home search with a practical wish list, focused on floor plan features, space needs, and neighborhood amenities. But in 2026, the market is different, and homeowners &hellip; [read more]\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@RoryClipsham\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@RoryClipsham\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rory Clipsham\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Rory Clipsham\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7\"},\"headline\":\"2026 Homebuyers are Relying on Instinct, Comfort &#038; Connection\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-07T22:15:28+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":803,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Home | Lifestyle\",\"Real Estate\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\\\/\",\"name\":\"2026 Homebuyers are Relying on Instinct, Comfort & Connection &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-07T22:15:28+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"2026 Homebuyers are Relying on Instinct, Comfort &#038; Connection\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty\",\"description\":\"Rory C Real Estate Updates | Home Selling &amp; Buying\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7\",\"name\":\"Rory Clipsham\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg\",\"width\":504,\"height\":504,\"caption\":\"Rory Clipsham\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/www.roryc.ca\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/pg\\\/BurnabyandCoquitlamHomes\\\/about\\\/?ref=page_internal\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/roryclipshamhomes\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/RoryClipsham\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"2026 Homebuyers are Relying on Instinct, Comfort & Connection &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\/","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"2026 Homebuyers are Relying on Instinct, Comfort & Connection &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty","twitter_description":"Most people start a home search with a practical wish list, focused on floor plan features, space needs, and neighborhood amenities. But in 2026, the market is different, and homeowners &hellip; [read more]","twitter_creator":"@RoryClipsham","twitter_site":"@RoryClipsham","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Rory Clipsham","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\/"},"author":{"name":"Rory Clipsham","@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7"},"headline":"2026 Homebuyers are Relying on Instinct, Comfort &#038; Connection","datePublished":"2026-05-07T22:15:28+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\/"},"wordCount":803,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7"},"articleSection":["Home | Lifestyle","Real Estate"],"inLanguage":"en-CA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\/","url":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\/","name":"2026 Homebuyers are Relying on Instinct, Comfort & Connection &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-05-07T22:15:28+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-CA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/2026-homebuyers-are-relying-on-instinct-comfort-connection\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"2026 Homebuyers are Relying on Instinct, Comfort &#038; Connection"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/","name":"Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty","description":"Rory C Real Estate Updates | Home Selling &amp; Buying","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-CA"},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0672b9777e67473b9bd9247df49499c7","name":"Rory Clipsham","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg","width":504,"height":504,"caption":"Rory Clipsham"},"logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/RoryC-white-w-tagline.jpg"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pg\/BurnabyandCoquitlamHomes\/about\/?ref=page_internal","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/roryclipshamhomes\/","https:\/\/x.com\/RoryClipsham"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27682"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27683,"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27682\/revisions\/27683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}