1927 - Houses with fireplaces have a stronger pull for buyers than homes without them. One reason is decorative. Whether they work or not, fireplaces provide a focal point for the room or even the whole house. They exude warmth. They provide a sense of hearth and home – especially important since Sept. 11, 2001. Another is utilitarian. Although fireplaces no longer are the only source of heat in most houses, they provide a welcome alternative during storms that can knock out service for days. There are areas of the country where you can't sell a new house without one. One of these is California, where Gopal Ahluwalia, director of research for the National Association of Home Builders, says, "you probably don't need one more than three days a year." But, he says, "lifestyle is guided by the conditions of the economy. When you have money left over, you want to spend it on things you don't need." With the economy struggling to recover, will fewer buyers of new houses be opting for fireplaces, or will owners of existing houses be wary of adding them? Not necessarily, the experts say. A fireplace can be paid for over time in a 30-year mortgage, and lower interest rates reduce that kind of burden even further. Read this Nemmar Real Estate Training article at Interior, Exterior - Fireplaces, Chimneys