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A July 2026 Rocket Mortgage survey of 3,000 Americans found that 93% of buyers want a home with dedicated dining space for hosting. The survey also points to broader demand for kitchens and living areas suited to gathering, though its findings reflect respondents’ preferences, not verified home purchases.
A July 2026 Rocket Mortgage survey found that 93% of respondents described as buyers want a home with dedicated dining space for hosting, a sign that the dining room may be regaining appeal after years of open-plan preferences. The survey of 3,000 Americans ages 18 to 75 also found demand for larger kitchens and living rooms, but it measures stated preferences rather than confirmed home-buying behavior.
Rocket Mortgage asked participants about the home features they value, according to the survey results summarized by Apartment Therapy. The company reported that 93% of buyers were looking for a home with dedicated dining space “for hosting.” The source does not define how it identified respondents as buyers or provide a breakdown of their answers by age, location, or purchase timeline.
Interest extended beyond formal dining rooms. Rocket Mortgage said 67% of respondents wanted a spacious kitchen where people naturally gather, while 69% favored a large living or family room. The survey also described gathering spaces as a must-have for 58% of respondents.
The report said one in five current homeowners had renovated specifically to host friends and family more effectively. It also said Gen Z respondents would consider paying a premium of 6% or more of a home’s total price for hosting-friendly areas. The available source does not give the number of respondents in that subgroup or explain how the premium question was framed.
Hosting Moves Up Buyers’ Wish Lists
The results suggest that some prospective buyers value homes as places to bring people together, not only as private living space. If that preference carries into actual purchasing decisions, it could affect how buyers compare layouts and how sellers describe dining areas, kitchens, and family rooms. The survey alone, however, cannot establish that buyers are paying more for these features or that dining rooms are becoming more common in new homes.
The reported interest also matters for homeowners weighing renovations. The finding that one in five surveyed homeowners renovated to improve hosting is an indication of interest in adapting existing homes, but it does not show what projects they completed, how much they spent, or whether those upgrades increased resale value. Buyers considering a larger home or renovation would still need to weigh space and cost against their own use of the room.
extendable dining table for hosting guests
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Apartment Therapy’s report places the survey against a recent design debate over the “disappearing dining room.” It notes that coverage in 2024, including its own, described homeowners favoring combined kitchen and dining areas. That trend did not necessarily mean people wanted to stop eating together; it reflected a preference for shared, flexible spaces over a separate formal room.
The 2026 survey points to continued interest in gathering at home, while its findings do not establish whether respondents want a closed-off dining room, a dining area within an open plan, or another arrangement. The distinction matters: a request for dedicated dining space is not necessarily a demand for a traditional room with a doorway and a formal table.
Rocket Mortgage’s explanation, as relayed by Apartment Therapy, links hosting interest partly to people seeking to save money by going out less and partly to valuing time with their communities. Those explanations are presented as possible reasons for the responses, not as conclusions demonstrated by the survey figures.
“93% of buyers are looking for a home with dedicated dining space for hosting.”
— Rocket Mortgage, as quoted in Apartment Therapy’s account of the survey
Survey Preferences, Not Sales Data
The findings are self-reported preferences from a survey, not transaction records or a measure of how many buyers actually reject homes without dining space. The source material does not include the survey’s full methodology, question wording, sampling approach, margin of error, or results by region. It also does not clarify what counts as “dedicated dining space” or “hosting-friendly areas.”
It is therefore unclear whether the responses represent a broad market shift, whether respondents favor formal dining rooms over open-plan dining areas, or whether the stated willingness to pay translates into higher sale prices. The figures should be read as reported survey results rather than proof that dining rooms are returning across the housing market.
More Market Evidence Needed
The next useful evidence would be comparable surveys with published methods, alongside housing listings, buyer decisions, renovation data, and sale prices that show whether preferences are changing in practice. Until such evidence is available, the Rocket Mortgage results offer a snapshot of what respondents say they want, not a forecast of home design or prices.
For buyers, the immediate takeaway is to distinguish a separate dining room from a flexible area that can support meals and guests. The survey does not establish that either layout is more valuable in every market, so local inventory and individual needs remain relevant.
Key Questions
What did the Rocket Mortgage survey find about dining rooms?
Rocket Mortgage reported that 93% of buyers surveyed wanted a home with dedicated dining space for hosting. The result reflects stated preferences, not confirmed purchases.
How many people took part in the survey?
The July 2026 survey included 3,000 Americans ages 18 to 75, according to Apartment Therapy’s account of the Rocket Mortgage findings.
Do respondents want formal dining rooms or open-plan layouts?
The available survey summary does not specify whether “dedicated dining space” means a separate formal room or a dining area integrated with a kitchen or living space.
Does the survey show dining rooms increase a home’s value?
No. The report describes preferences and says some Gen Z respondents would consider paying a premium for hosting-friendly areas, but it provides no sale-price data showing that dining rooms raise home values.
What other home spaces did respondents want?
Rocket Mortgage reported that 67% wanted a spacious kitchen, 69% favored a large living or family room, and 58% called gathering spaces a must-have.
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