"Mars vs. Venus" Differences Hold True for Home Hunters, According to ZipRealty Survey

EMERYVILLE, CA--(Marketwire - June 10, 2010) - Forget that "man cave" or home theater room: what men crave more than women in a new house is a luxurious bathroom, a guest bedroom, a dining room and views. On the other hand, female house hunters value a home office more than a kids' playroom, dining room or luxurious bathroom. These are just a few of the more surprising findings of a recent survey of 1,000 house hunters released today by real estate brokerage ZipRealty (NASDAQ: [ ZIPR ]) ([ www.ziprealty.com ]).

Other survey highlights:

Both men and women home hunters rated green features higher this year compared to 2008, with 27 percent of this year's respondents ranking a green home high priority.
The percentage of home shoppers ranking a home office as a high priority is up from 35 percent in 2008 to 39 percent in 2010.
The three biggest turn-offs when viewing a home in person are structural damage, bad odors, a busy street and an awkward floor plan. While searching online, lack of parking and few or no photos and low square footage are the biggest deal-breakers.

Top 10 Most Desired Home Features: All Respondents		Percentage of Respondents Ranking Feature High Priority
Garage or parking space		86.8
Master suite		78.9
Ample storage space		72.0
Large or walk-in closets		66.5
Guest bedroom		66.4
Outdoor entertainment area		64.3
Gourmet or updated kitchen		60.6
Breakfast room or eat-in kitchen		55.8
Large yard		43.2
Wood floors		40.8

Male versus Female House-Hunting: Must-Haves and Deal Breakers Differ

"Overall, the same things you would always expect to top the list of 'must-haves' and 'deal breakers' for house hunters still show up, but it is interesting to see men place a higher priority than women on things often characterized as stereotypically female priorities, such as a luxurious bathroom and a dining room," said ZipRealty Vice President of Marketing Leslie Tyler. "Also, women's growing desire for a home office may speak to the fact that more women are working from home these days."

A higher percentage of women reported ample storage and a large yard as a high priority compared to men, and reported that when viewing a home in person they would be turned off by small bedrooms and a lack of common space more often than male respondents. In fact, 60 percent of women compared to 49 percent of men reported they wouldn't consider a home with small bedrooms.
Forty-four percent of men rated a home with a view as a high priority, compared to only 33 percent of women, while 28 percent of men reported a luxurious bathroom as a high priority, compared to only 23 percent of women, and more than 70 percent of men indicated a guest bedroom as a must-have, compared to only 63 percent of women.
A higher percentage of men reported when searching for homes online disdain for outdated furniture or paint and unkempt landscaping compared to women -- and men reported more often than women in person, they're more likely to be turned off by a lack of curb appeal than women are.

Top 10 Most Desired Home Features for Men	Percentage of Men Ranking Feature High Priority	Top 10 Most Desired Home Features for Women	Percentage of Women Ranking Feature High Priority
Garage or parking space	85.5	Garage or parking space	87.7
Master suite	79.8	Master Suite	77.8
Ample storage space	71.2	Ample Storage Space	72.7
Guest bedroom	70.2	Large or walk-in closets	68.7
Large or walk-in closets	64.2	Outdoor entertainment area	64.2
Outdoor entertainment area	63.4	Guest bedroom	63.9
Gourmet or updated kitchen	59.1	Gourmet or updated kitchen	61.8
Breakfast room or eat-in kitchen	55.2	Breakfast room or eat-in kitchen	56.1
View	44.5	Large yard	43
Large yard	43	Wood floors	40.9

About This Survey
This report is prepared by ZipRealty, Inc. as of May 2010, based on a survey of approximately 1,000 ZipRealty.com registered users. While ZipRealty believes the survey is reasonably representative of typical homebuyer interests and preferences, the results reflected in this survey and our statements throughout this report are not a representation or warranty of any kind. ZipRealty does not assume, and expressly disclaims, any liability associated with a potential homebuyer's or homeseller's use of this information. This report and all of the statements, pictures, and results of our survey are ZipRealty, Inc. information.

About ZipRealty, Inc.
ZipRealty is a full-service residential real estate brokerage firm. The Company utilizes its user-friendly Web site and employee real estate agents to provide home buyers and sellers with high-quality service and value. ZipRealty's Web site provides users with access to comprehensive local Multiple Listing Services' home listings data, as well as other relevant market and neighborhood information. The Company's proprietary business management system and technology platform help to reduce costs, allowing the Company to pass on significant savings to consumers. Founded in 1999, the company operates in 35 major markets in 22 states and the District of Columbia. For more information on ZipRealty, visit [ www.ziprealty.com ] or call 1-800-CALL-ZIP.

N@N

"Mars vs. Venus" Differences Hold True for Home Hunters, According to ZipRealty Survey