Aging in a suitable residential environment is essential for the health and well-being of older adults. This study aims to analyze the residential environment preferences (REPs) of older people in China to create a residential environment suitable for their physical and mental health, enhancing their life satisfaction. This study used a sample questionnaire to identify relevant characteristics and analyze preferences, which were validated using non-parametric tests and Pearson’s correlation coefficient tests. The questionnaire consisted of 33 questions on characteristics of the residential environment on a 7-point Likert scale and was administered to 433 older adults aged 60 and over in 28 provinces in China. The results showed that “community safety” was the most important environmental characteristic, with an average importance rating of 5.77 out of 6. Accessible building design (average rating of 4.91), emergency response systems (average rating of 4.49), and indoor thermal comfort (average rating of 4.45) were also key factors in promoting aging in place. There was a positive correlation between the community environment and the indoor environment (e.g., community safety and indoor sound insulation, r = 0.209, p < 0.01), and both were, to some extent, negatively correlated with building features (e.g., public toilets and private courtyards, r = −0.278, p < 0.01; indoor thermal comfort and green building design, r = −0.165, p < 0.01). Age and physical health had a strong influence on preferences, but gender had little influence. This study paves the way for future research and policy development on age-friendly housing to ensure sustainable and supportive residential environments for the aging population.

Following the commodification reform of residential properties in China, multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) have emerged as the most prevalent housing type owing to their high economic value and convenient infrastructure. In recent years, there has been an increasing concern regarding the potential negative impacts of MURBs on residents. To address this issue, in this study, a survey was conducted among 552 purchasers, and methods such as expert questionnaires, factor analysis, Kano two-dimensional quality, and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) were employed to evaluate the significance of 19 factors related to the quality of MURBs’ unit spatial layouts. An index model summarizing their utility was developed. The research findings indicated that spatial function held the greatest influence, followed by indoor environment, with spatial organization ranking last. Moreover, we analyzed the influence of preferences on satisfaction and the variations in preferences based on sociodemographic factors. The results aim to assist real estate developers and purchasers in evaluating the quality of housing spatial layouts, ultimately enhancing the overall quality and comfort of MURBs.