Home buyers aren't just looking at the number of bedrooms and kitchen appliances anymore. They're looking at developments that offer new amenities like golf simulators, green spaces and yoga studios. Real estate experts MariaElena Scotto and Kim Shepard join Your Future Home to talk about the newest trends in housing amenities.
Technology is a big must-have for first-time home buyers. Shepard talks about front doors with keyless entry, built-in Bluetooth-enabled devices, and appliances that pair with your smartphone. But technology isn't the only thing home buyers look at. Being active is a huge part of people's lives, and they want their apartment or complex to help them achieve that goal. Many now offer yoga studios, meditation rooms, group classes and even rock climbing walls.
Plus, first-time home buyers are all about going green. Scotto explains they want space to plant flowers, vegetables, and trees. They also want their house or apartment to have that sustainability seal with eco-friendly products.
Members of the Kappa League mentoring program at Wyandanch Memorial High School in Long Island, NY are preparing for an educational trip to Ghana. Principal Paul Sibblies is on a mission to enrich his students' lives to put some of them in touch with their roots. "When you invest in young people, then it's the greatest investment you can make," he said.
A group of 15 students recently graduated from SANYS U., a six-week program held by the Self Advocacy Association of New York State. The course helps people with disabilities to advocate on their own behalf, learning more about their rights, legislation and issues that matter most.
The minivan is turning 40 years old this year. While it made up just 1.8 percent of the car market in 2022, that number could begin to tick up, as more families increase interest in the car's advantages. Cheddar News' senior reporter Michelle Castillo takes a deeper look at the minivan's lineage.
