Since many households have a computer at home, wiring and technology capabilities are also important. It's not just the adults who want space for a home office. Children are branching out from the kitchen table and need desk and computer space to do their homework.

"We would not even think of building a house without an office," said Gregory Howell of Howell and McNeil Development. "Most business professionals do a considerable amount of work from home and to not have a well-thought-out home office can mean the difference between selling the home or not."

Howell, who builds estates in Los Gatos, Saratoga, Los Altos and other high-end markets, also has a real estate license with Alain Pinel Realtors in Los Gatos. He believes a home office is an essential component right after the basic bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen and family/living room.

"Home offices are not just for the adults anymore, either. The children can also have their own little home office area for homework, tutoring, accessing the Internet and playing games," Howell said.

This is Silicon Valley, after all. Linda Hollister of Alain Pinel in Palo Alto also predicts that home offices for kids will be the newest trend. "At least one home office is a must in this Silicon Valley haven of dreams," she says, explaining that many mothers in the Bay Area are professionals who need office space even if they're not working full time.

Many new moms find the only way to keep up with their job during maternity leave is to keep connected by computer. It helps if there is a home office that provides some separation from the noise of children playing in the background. Parents who have home-based businesses also find keeping children separate from work a challenge as well as a threat to professionalism at times.

"The vast majority of buyers are looking for space for an office," said Susan Sweeley, a Realtor with Alain Pinel Realtors in Los Altos. "Buyers are usually looking for a fourth bedroom for the office. These are the young professionals as well as the retired couples. All seem to need a space for the computer."

There are all kinds of options for the home office. Finding space could be as easy as selecting the right piece of furniture from a variety of options on the market to doing some creative space planning to accommodate already existing furniture. Rooms designed to function in several capacities are also popular.

Sue Walsh of Cashin Company believes the home office is a continuing trend that started many years ago and has become more in demand. "I feel that the buyers of today are definitely wanting space for a home office. It might be in a large room that can accommodate a large cabinet that opens up for use as an office center, a corner of a room, a niche in a hallway, a roomy staircase landing or a separate den or room that is devoted entirely to such use."

David Bergman, a broker associate with Alain Pinel Realtors in Los Altos, said, "I see a high demand for home offices, more so in the higher-end homes but strong at all price levels. In most cases, as the price level of the buyer increases, so does the expected finish level of the office."

At the high end Bergman sees formal wood finishes on the walls with built-in shelves and workspaces. "I also see computer networks, the ability to add multiple phone lines, and, in some cases, conference areas or rooms. When it comes to home offices, the sky and your budget are the limit," Bergman said.

Technology and Internet access can often be a problem. Realtor Susan Curran of Alain Pinel in Los Altos said one of the biggest frustrations she encounters is the lack of availability of high-speed Internet access in certain areas.

"The lack of high-speed Internet access in Silicon Valley seems ludicrous" but there are areas where only dial-up is available. "My clients insist on both office space and high-speed Internet access," said Curran, who works with buyers who are in the 90 percent professional demographic. "Office space at home is a necessary convenience or evil, depending on how you look at it. Even clients who do not telecommute require it to make them more effective and competitive at work."

Many Realtors make use of home offices as well. Mike Moresco of Alain Pinel Realtors in Los Gatos finds the home office works well when there is a lack of space and computer time at the main office.

Chuck Nunnally with Alain Pinel Realtors believes there is a misnomer out there as to what constitutes a home office. "We all like to think that if you have a separate phone, fax, computer with high-speed access, copier and desk at home, you have a home office. Not so. A lot of agents tell people to call them at their home office. This means they have a space of some kind at home to work from but not necessarily a separate room with separate entrance, full desk with chairs and all the tools."

Whether it's a corner in the kitchen or a full-blown at-home business, home offices are becoming a necessity in today's busy, high-tech environment.