Berlin - A separate room for an office and wiring that can handle all of today's multimedia devices are factors that will make a big difference for people who are looking for an apartment in future, a study conducted by Germany's Berlin-based association for apartment and real estate businesses showed.

In addition, the energy use standard within the apartment must be correct, according to the study, which collected data from
1,500 households throughout Germany about people's living preferences.

Living areas without barriers are developing into another important factor for people seeking apartments, and apartments are boosted when healthcare and other support facilities are nearby. Security measures within the apartment building increasingly are better received, according to the study. This is especially true when their cost is reasonable.

The study also showed that younger senior citizens and families are set to rediscover inner city life.

In general the study showed that home life in the future will become more variable. In other words, the uniform standard apartment is a thing of the past.

In addition to regional differences such as small versus large cities and desirable versus less desirable markets, there are factors such as the age of the tenant, the culture within the apartment building, the tenants ability to afford the apartment and the concept of the building. The latter runs the gamut from "solidly modest" to "communicatively dynamic" to "sophisticated." (dpa)