While some home features have the kind of buzz that makes home shoppers think they must be part of their next home, living with them may actually cause ongoing regret, according to a new article at realtor.com®.

One of those highly desired items: an open floor plan. An open layout may actually end up a nuisance as noise and privacy become issues, but that doesn’t stop it from holding a top spot on many buyers’ wish lists.

“Sounds are multiplied in an open floor plan; they don’t offer sound protection,” says Laura Mineff, an interior designer in Cleveland. “You’ll need rugs and window panels to help absorb the sound, as well as tall dimensional artwork and plants to help fill in the space. Creating a warm, cozy atmosphere in a vast, open living space can be costly.”

Open floor plans also lack privacy—those who live in them may find it difficult to carve out a space of their own.

Another highly desired home feature that many buyers end up regretting, according to realtor.com®, is hardwood flooring. There are some rooms in the home that weren’t meant to have hardwood, Daniel Meyer, co-founder and CEO of Pocketdoor, a home renovation company based in San Francisco, told realtor.com®. Two prime areas that aren’t hardwood-friendly are kitchens and bathrooms.

“Many finishes look great but cannot handle everyday life for buyers, especially those with young children,” Meyer says. “In the best-case scenario, they catch the issue and refinish the floors before spills or water become stains that become permanent. In other cases, people are investing in new flooring.”

Still, the nuisance of keeping it spotless doesn’t stop hardwood flooring from a high rank on most home buyers’ home shopping list.

View more potential regrets among commonly asked home features at realtor.com®.

Bank of America has made several recent moves to reduce the borrowing costs of would-be home buyers who have faced affordability constraints. The bank’s latest offer: mortgages with no origination fees for buyers with little savings for a down payment. The promotion is available through Oct. 31.

The offer applies only to loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, Department of Veteran Affairs, Freddie Mac’s Home Possible program, and Bank of America’s own Affordable Loan Solution program.

“When you’re a borrower, it’s much easier to compare loan offers when lenders don’t charge fees because it’s a true apples-to-apples comparison,” Holden Lewis, a housing expert at personal finance website NerdWallet, told MarketWatch. “Lots of eyes are on the few lenders who don’t charge origination fees, and if they thrive by doing so, you’ll see more lenders follow their lead. A shift towards zero origination fee loans would be great for consumers because it would be easier for both home buyers and refinancers to comparison-shop and avoid unnecessary confusion.”

Bank of America isn’t the only one waiving origination fees. Nearly one in 10 borrowers say they weren’t charged fees, according to a study from LendingTree. That said, 60% of borrowers paid between $1,000 to $5,000 in origination fees. Origination fees are usually charged as a percentage of the home’s price. As such, in high-priced housing markets, home buyers may face steeper costs.

Financial experts warn home buyers to be discerning if a bank offers to waive an origination fee. Some banks may try to make up that loss in revenue by charging higher interest rates or tacking fees onto the principal of the loan, cautions Tendayi Kapfidze, chief economist at LendingTree.

This marks the sixth consecutive weekly decline for mortgage rates, leaving some borrowers wondering how low will they go. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.82% this week, the lowest average since September 2017.

“While the drop in mortgage rates is a good opportunity for consumers to save on their mortgage payment, our research indicates that there can be a wider dispersion among mortgage rate offers,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “By shopping around and getting a single additional mortgage rate quote, a borrower can save an average of $1,500.”

Freddie Mac reports the following national averages with mortgage rates for the week ending June 6:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.82%, with an average 0.5 point, falling from last week’s 3.99%. Last year at this time, 30-year rates averaged 4.54%.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.28%, with an average 0.5 point, falling from last week’s 3.46% average. A year ago, 15-year rates averaged 4.01%.
• 5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 3.52%, with an average 0.4 point, falling from last week’s 3.60% average. A year ago, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.74%.

After the kitchen, the next biggest remodeling expenditures are for guest and master bathroom remodels, which increased over the past year by 17% and 14%, respectively, the survey found.

The higher overall costs on remodeling spending is likely due to the increased costs of imported building materials, the survey notes.

“Last year’s 10 percent increase in tariffs on imported building materials is likely one of several forces hitting consumer pockets in areas such as kitchen and bathroom remodels that are heavily dependent on imports of cabinetry, countertops, ceramic tile, plumbing fixtures, and vinyl flooring from China,” says Nino Sitchinava, Houzz principal economist. “We expect similar effects to take place in 2019 given the recent breakdown in trade negotiations.” (Also read Experts: Mexican Tariffs Would Hurt Housing Affordability.)

Top Remodeling, Decorating Projects

Slightly more than half of the 140,000 homeowners surveyed say they plan to continue or begin home renovations this year. They expect to spend a median of $10,000 on upcoming projects, the survey showed.

What are some of the most popular projects?

Security upgrades was one theme of projects that showed a significant rise in popularity. Homeowners are spending a median amount of $500 on items like smart outdoor security cameras, which can be monitored or controlled from a mobile device. Younger generations are the most likely to focus on home security upgrades, according to the survey.

Here’s a breakdown by theme of some other top decorating and remodeling projects.

The top home decor–related purchases among homeowners are:

• Pillows and throws: 51%
• Rugs: 50%
• Large furniture: 47%
• Artwork: 46%
• Small furniture: 44%
• Lamps: 39%
• Window treatments: 39%
• Storage/organization: 34%
• Mirrors: 28%

The top home improvement–related purchases among homeowners who renovated:

• Paint: 71%
• Light fixtures: 55%
• Faucets and shower heads: 52%
• Building materials: 44%
• Lawn and garden supplies: 44%
• Non carpet flooring: 43%
• Hardware (cabinets/doors): 39%
• Sinks: 35%
• Tile (walls/backsplashes): 33%
• Countertops: 33%
• Major kitchen appliances: 32%
• Hand and power tools: 32%
• Toilets: 30%
• Doors—interior/exterior: 28%

The top outdoor decor:

• Lighting: 26%
• Large furniture: 23%
• Small furniture: 20%
• Pillows and throws: 16%
• Fire features: 12%
• Rugs: 12%