When you’re searching for your dream home or looking to build from the ground up, it’s easy to get caught up in the basics: how many bedrooms do we need? What layout works best for our family? Where should the kitchen be?
But according to real estate data giant Zillow, today’s homebuyers are looking for something deeper: character and personality.
Zillow recently launched its brand-new Zillow Buzz Index (ZBI), a metric analyzing millions of home listings to find out exactly which architectural details make buyers stop their scroll, hit the “heart” button, and schedule a tour. The data shows that homes with distinct character and unique design elements generate significantly more daily engagement, sell faster, and fetch higher prices.
At Intrepid Builders, we love keeping a finger on the pulse of what makes a house truly feel like a home. Here is a look at the top design trends dominating the market right now—and how new construction allows you to enjoy them without the headache of an older fixer-upper.
1. Exposed Wood Beams (The #1 Showstopper)
Taking the absolute top spot on Zillow’s index, listings that feature exposed beams receive nearly a 20% boost in daily buyer engagement.
- The Appeal: Beams bring warmth, history, and architectural visual interest into a room. They draw the eye upward and make living spaces or primary suites feel grand yet cozy.
- The New Build Advantage: In an older home, structural beams can sometimes hide hidden water damage, aging drywall, or settling issues. When you build new, architectural accent beams can be seamlessly planned into high-ceilinged great rooms, giving you all the rich character with pristine, modern structural engineering underneath.
2. Touches of Character (Exposed Brick & Arched Doorways)
Zillow’s index reports that exposed brick drives a 15% boost in interest, while arched doorways bring in a 14% boost. Buyers are officially moving away from flat, “cookie-cutter” drywall boxes and craving texture.
- The Appeal: An unexpected archway or a textured accent wall breaks up the straight lines of a house and tells a visual story the second you walk through the front door.
- The New Build Advantage: Incorporating a custom brick feature wall or custom-framed arched openings into a new home design allows you to enjoy vintage-inspired charm completely customized to your personal color palette and taste.
3. Open Shelving & Distinctive Aesthetics
Coming in hot with a nearly 15% boost in buyer interest is open shelving. Buyers love the airy, open feel it gives to kitchens, pantries, and home offices, allowing them to display beautiful dinnerware or favorite books. Zillow also noted that homes with a clear, timeless architectural identity consistently outperform the rest of the market.
- The Appeal: It merges functionality with fashion, giving homeowners an easy way to showcase their personal style.
🏗️ Why “New Construction” is the Best Way to Capture the Trends
While Zillow’s data proves that buyers are hopelessly smitten by classic character, buying an older home to get it can be a risky gamble. Historic or older properties often come with outdated electrical work, drafty windows, old insulation, and unpredictable plumbing.
That’s where Intrepid Builders comes in.
We don’t believe modern new construction has to mean sacrificing personality. Our goal is to blend the best of both worlds:
- The Character You Want: Beautiful exterior sightlines, stunning masonry details, and thoughtful interior accents that give your home its own unique soul.
- The Modern Efficiency You Need: Brand-new HVAC systems, tightly sealed windows, energy-efficient appliances, and zero hidden maintenance surprises.
Ready to build a home with real “Buzz”?
Whether you fall in love with one of our move-in-ready homes or want to start fresh with a community floor plan, we are here to build a space that aligns perfectly with your lifestyle—and boasts the exact design elements that stand out for years to come.
🏡 Spaces are filling up fast! Explore our active communities and see what we’re working on right now at intrepidbuildersllc.com.