What rates with home buyers

What do prospective homeowners really want in a home? And in what order of preference? A big-city housing data report came up with these answers:

* Most important for all brackets of ''lookers'' is the neighborhood.

* Next was getting special benefits - low property taxes, already improved streets, and good community lighting.

* Third was settling on a house with as many bedrooms as price would allow.

* Fourth was convenience - proximity to work, shopping, and transportation.

Features they look for in the house itself ranked like this: (1) a ''real'' fireplace; (2) tiled bathroom; (3) double oven, microwave oven; (4) easy-to-keep entry with tile or wood floor; and (5) double basins in the master bathroom.