![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/granite.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto: James Bombales<\/em><\/p>\n Five years ago, you couldn\u2019t turn on an episode of <\/span>House Hunters<\/span><\/i> or <\/span>Love It or List It<\/span><\/i> without hearing the words \u2018granite countertops\u2019 repeated ad nauseam. Second only to \u2018open-concept\u2019 (my personal observation as an avid viewer of HGTV), the home feature continually ranked near the top of buyers\u2019 wishlists.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But the conversation began to shift around 2017, when manufacturers of man-made quartz really stepped up their marketing game. Granite was knocked off its throne and became the subject of articles with headlines like, \u201c<\/span>This Longtime Kitchen Trend Is Officially Out<\/span><\/a>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But the clout of granite has not faded entirely, at least according to a recent survey by <\/span>Point2 Homes<\/span><\/a>. In 2019, \u2018granite countertops\u2019 ranked as the most popular home feature touted by agents in real estate listings across the United States. Is it popular because it\u2019s a now-ubiquitous design trend or because it\u2019s still valued by home shoppers? While that question remains unanswered, what we do know is the top three home features were consistent among all regions and price points.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n Photo: James Bombales<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018Hardwood floors\u2019 came in second place, followed by \u2018stainless steel appliances,\u2019 yet another former kitchen upgrade that is now considered a must-have. \u2018Open floor plan\u2019 was the fourth most popular keyword among luxury and non-luxury listings, and \u2018fenced backyard\u2019 ranked fifth, unsurprising for a feature that\u2019s advantageous to families with children and pet owners.<\/p>\n Real estate agents were also keen to advertise \u2018covered patio,\u2019 which provides shade from the sun or shelter during inclimate weather. Anyone who\u2019s ever had to deal with soaking wet outdoor furniture can probably see the value in that. Next on the list came \u2018vaulted ceilings\u2019 (more room for a 12-foot Christmas tree, I guess), and \u2018formal dining room\u2019 took the number eight spot.<\/p>\n Photo: James Bombales<\/em><\/p>\n Rounding out the top 10 were \u2018new roof\u2019 \u2014 an enticing selling feature as a replacement costs between $4,707 and $10,460, according to data from <\/span>HomeGuide<\/span><\/a> \u2014 and finally, \u2018natural light,\u2019 which is known to increase productivity and regulate sleep cycles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n