Newly built homes have one feature that's luring buyers: Outdoor living spaces

• As indoor space shrinks, outdoor living areas are becoming more important than ever.
• Porches and patios are making their way back into modern homes.
• They give homeowners a place to gather and feel more connected to nature.

A few features define the classic American home: a white picket fence, a manicured lawn, and, of course, the porch.

These were the hallmarks of the homes we saw on 1950s and 1960s TV shows like "Leave It to Beaver" and "The Brady Bunch." But as that era faded and American homebuyers leaned more into modern aesthetics, porches and patios fell out of favor in some parts of the US.

Now, that trend is reversing.

As newly built homes shrink in size, buyers want to make the most of their space, and for many builders, that means bringing back livable outdoor spaces like the porch and patio.

Data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows that the share of new single-family homes in the US built with patios rose steadily from 47% in 2008 to 64% in 2023. Similarly, the overall share of homes with porches increased from 60% to 68% during that time.

"Buyers want a patio. They want a front porch," Rose Quint, assistant vice president for survey research at the NAHB, shared at the National Association of Real Estate Editors conference in June. "If the home's shrinking, at least that space allows them to have more living space."

Survey data from the NAHB's 2024 What Home Buyers Really Want report, a national survey of over 3,000 recent and prospective homebuyers, shows that 86% of respondents want a patio, and 81% would like a back porch.

Outdoor living spaces are also in demand to optimize multigenerational living

While the growing demand for patios and porches has a lot to do with homes being smaller, another factor is the rise of multigenerational living, Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst with Realtor.com, told BI.

"With interior square footage shrinking due to rising construction costs and tighter budgets, outdoor spaces like porches and patios have become an appealing, cost-effective way to extend living space," Jones said. "They offer both social and practical value, especially in multigenerational households, where shared spaces are in high demand but additional rooms may be out of reach."

With more people living under one roof — whether it's young adults moving back in with their parents after graduation, aging parents living with their adult children during retirement, or siblings sharing a home — outdoor communal spaces have become more important than ever.

Jennifer Shurtleff, director of product research and development with Texas-based homebuilder Highland Homes, told BI that the company is meeting demand with flexible outdoor features like optional kitchens, fireplaces, and covered patios.

Shurtleff said it's part of a broader shift toward outdoor amenities that support health and wellness.

"There's been a dramatic shift toward biophilic design over the past few years, where seamless indoor-outdoor living plays a key role in overall well-being," Shurtleff said. "Homebuyers are prioritizing spaces that allow them to connect with nature, soak up natural sunlight, and enjoy a sense of calm and balance."

"Whether it's a quiet cup of coffee on the front porch, an alfresco dinner on the back patio, or entertaining friends around an outdoor fireplace, these outdoor spaces offer versatile opportunities for living and entertaining while staying connected to everything happening inside the home," Shurtleff added.