The home theater is moving out of the basement and into the main living area. Home theaters are being replaced by multi functional media rooms that feature lounge-style spaces—cozy couches, tables, and chairs around a TV, as well as a place to entertain guests or for the kids to do their homework, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Homeowners Mark and Kathy Harrison in Indianapolis told WSJ they chose to have their home theater in their main living space instead of the traditional spot in a dark basement. By being on the main floor, the room has high ceilings, a fireplace, outdoor views of a lake, and an 85-inch anti-glare TV.

“With the old home theater setup, you’re in a dark room, on a lower level away from everything,” Mark Harrison told WSJ. “This is more convenient. We both have our computers here, so we can do work while watching TV. And the kitchen refrigerator is here, so we can get a drink or adult beverage.”

Part of the shift out of the basement comes from the fact that a home theater no longer requires a big screen and projector. Automated, light-blocking window shades and anti-glare, flat-screen TVs are allowing media rooms to take prime spots in the house. Televisions have gotten thinner, too, and look more like a painting hanging on the wall.

“We’re seeing a huge growth in multiuse spaces,” Giles Sutton, senior vice president of industry engagement at CEDIA, told WSJ. “People prefer a more informal setting and not having to change the aesthetics of a space to accommodate the technology.”

After inventory and affordability challenges in 2018, prospective home buyers may have better chances of scoring a property this year. Affordability will remain an issue in some high-priced markets, says realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale, but overall, the national market is looking brighter for buyers who have stayed on the sidelines. Here’s why.

More homes are for sale. For the last few years, a limited number of listings has given buyers fewer choices. But housing experts predict more robust inventory this year. “For buyers, there is going to be more inventory, so that’s a bright spot,” Hale says. “The downside of that bright spot is it might not be in their price range.” The supply of homes for sale under $300,000 may not grow significantly, but they’re also not decreasing, she adds.

Home price growth is slowing. Home prices will still rise but at a much slower pace than the last few years. Hale predicts a 2.2 percent increase in home prices this year, down from last year’s nearly 5 percent growth. “We do still anticipate rising home prices, particularly for below-median-priced homes, so buyers in that price range may have some incentive to buy sooner rather than later,” Hale says. On the flip side, “as rising costs raise the bar to home ownership, some would-be buyers will be knocked out of the market. [That means] remaining buyers may have less competition to contend with than they saw in 2018.”

Mortgage rates are lower. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has backed away from the 5 percent mark, decreasing early this year. That means lower borrowing costs for buyers. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.41 percent last week. “That’s definitely a huge opportunity for buyers because it drastically improves affordability,” Hale says. “And I think that if these low rates persist for a little while, then we’ll actually see stronger sales than we originally forecast.”

Borrowing costs were cheaper this week, as mortgage rates continued inching down. “The U.S. economy remains on solid ground, inflation is contained, and the threat of higher short-term rates is fading from view, which has allowed mortgage rates to drift down to their lowest level in 10 months,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “This is great news for consumers who will be looking for homes during the upcoming spring homebuying season. Mortgage rates are essentially similar to a year ago, but today’s buyers have a larger selection of homes and more consumer bargaining power than they did the last few years.”

Freddie Mac reports the following averages with mortgage rates for the week ending Feb.7:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 4.41 percent, with an average 0.4 point, dropping from last week’s 4.46 percent average. Last year at this time, 30-year rates averaged 4.32 percent.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.84 percent, with an average 0.4 point, dropping from last week’s 3.89 percent average. A year ago, 15-year rates averaged 3.77 percent.
• 5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 3.91 percent, with an average 0.3 point, falling from last week’s 3.96 percent average. A year ago, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.57 percent.

Luxury home shoppers can have high expectations for what they want in a home. “The higher the price point, the more features buyers expect and that desire intensifies,” says Alec Traub, a real estate professional with Redfin in Los Angeles.

Many of these high-end homes share some traits. Redfin recently highlighted some of the top amenities it’s noticing on more luxury shoppers’ wish lists, including:

Greater privacy: Buyers purchasing a high-end home expect not to be able to look outside and see their neighbors. They’re showing a desire for gates, walls, and hedges for added privacy.

Smaller pools: A large, deep pool that takes up the entire backyard is not high on many buyers’ lists. Instead, Traub says his clients are looking for smaller plunge pools that are almost like “glorified Jacuzzis.” “While houses have been built bigger and take up more space on the lot, the pool is still something people still want and expect—just less of it,” he says.

Two of everything: Traub also has been noticing a doubling up of appliances. “It’s no longer one stove and one oven; now it’s two stoves, two ovens, two dishwashers, two sets of washers and dryers—and all upscale, designer brands,” he notes. “Luxury means never waiting or having dirty clothes or dishes.”

Guest suites: Having a comfortable place for guests is also increasingly important, Traub says. Guest suites don’t have to be detached from the house, either. A bedroom with an en suite bathroom that can be used for a live-in nanny or maid or for friends or family who visit is important, Traub says. “My clients want that extra space, as well as rooms that can be a home office, as well as a gym or workout room,” he notes.

Homeowners can become “noseblind” to their home’s own smell, and that could be problematic when putting the home up for sale. After all, the smell of a property can have a big influence on buyers’ perceptions of the home. And no one wants to have the smelly house.

Noseblindness happens when a nose detects an odor but determines it’s no longer an annoyance. It then shuts down receptors for that smell. As such, a lingering smell no longer is detected by the homeowner.

“One of the best methods to tell if your home stinks is to leave it,” Bryan Stoddard, handyman and interior designer, told realtor.com®. “Go away for a day or two, or even a week. Close all windows and doors, shut the blinds, and seal the place up airtight. On return from your holiday, as soon as you open the door, be sure to take a large breath in through the nose. That way you’ll find out what someone new to your home really smells.”

If time isn’t on your side, take a few quick laps around your neighborhood block, and then take a deep breath as soon as you enter the home. Homeowners can also ask a friend or their real estate agent for some honest advice.

“The best way for anyone to discover if their home smells is to ask a friend to be truthful and tell them,” Julie Finch-Sally, nicknamed “The Guru of Cleaning,” told realtor.com®.

If the house does smell, how can you get a more pleasing scent when you’re house is on the market? Some scents are a turnoff and some are more inviting. Read: How Do You Create Scent Appeal?