Quirky Real Estate Trends

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As the housing market continues to recover, a bevy of interesting trends have been emerging in the sector, affecting everything from buyer and seller behavior to design and everything in between.

Try before you buy

Want to spend quality time in the home you?re interested in buying? Perhaps spend the night and check things out before putting a single penny down? Real estate agents are now letting some qualified, serious buyers do just that! And this unusual strategy, which can ultimately help buyers make an informed decision, is catching on in markets across the country.

Dogs are people, too

Builders aren?t just turning to upgrades and financial carrots to help offset rising buying costs. They?re also getting more creative with the ?extras? by taking pet friendly to a new level. In fact, some high-end apartment buildings offer pet food-centered room service menus, and in New York City, MiMA development?s Dog City will even walk, groom and arrange play dates for residents? dogs.

Boutique-style closets

While you likely know that screened porches and outdoor living rooms continue to interest homeowners, you may not realize that master bedroom closets designed with a coveted, boutique-like feel ? think illuminated rods, compartmentalized storage, shoe walls, vanity areas and other focal points ? are also becoming a virtual must-have, according to architects and high-end home builders.