Here on the Monterey Peninsula, people like gas fireplaces.

One of the criteria for my first home was it had to have a fireplace. It turned out I bought a house without a fireplace but had one built exactly like I wanted it, which was even better.  Every house since (except the one I'm in now) has had a fireplace. I miss it.

The downside to not having a fireplace is no alternative source of heat if my power goes out. If I were to have one now, I would choose propane gas.  For an older person, like me, it's cleaner and easier than chopping wood and hauling it in during the cold months.

I think that it is still the center of the household for many.  I know we miss having one at our Goodyear, Arizona house.  Where else would we put stockings for Santa?!?!?!

Richie - I remember as a child thinking a fireplace was something that was a requirement for a home but that was because the home I grew up in had one. 

Time on this planet has taught me any warmth, comfort, attractiveness or any assortment of other things that such a "focal point" may bring can't be found in things but elsewhere in my opinion.  

Oddly many people think a fireplace in Phoenix is a crazy idea.  But personally I love having one and always have!  We typically only use ours around the Holidays and it's so warm and comforting! I much prefer gas as it's not so messy and we can burn it on all days VS wood buring is banned on certain days because high polution.

Not much value here in Texas. But I still enjoy having one in my own residents and mine is gas, but I can also burn wood. 

But as value goes, it adds as much value as maintainance free gutters!!! LOL 

In Florida, fireplaces are decorative - not useful.

Living in California there are so many restrictions for using a fireplace. It is my understanding new construction is not allowed to build with fireplaces. One exception would be a faux fireplace that is simply decorative. 

Here on the beautiful Colorado River? Not much value. And they can be a detriment. We spend WAY over half the year trying to keep our houses cool!

It depends on the buyer. We see fewer and fewer wood burning fireplaces here in Charlotte... new homes are built with gas and older homes are converting to gas. Can't remember when I last saw an electric fireplace. One good thing with a non-wood burning is no need for a chimney that needs ongoing maintenance.

I grew up in NYC without a fireplace, so never missed it. Have had gas fireplaces in my last three houses, which are rarely lit. Had a second wood buring fireplace in one house and it was never used.

I've always had a fireplace and even though most of my houses were Southern California save one in Wyoming and one in Pennsylvania. I love the light in the winter. I've had gas ones and they are just okay. My favorite one was a cast iron wood fireplace. Keep the stacked wood away from the house because it attracts mice, spiders, snakes ... The best wood is almond - smells sweet. 

Very much a plus in my area, both wood, pellet, gas & propane.  In my home alone we have 5 fireplaces, all in use.  3 gas, 1 electric, 1 wood burning.  My previous home had 3 coal fireplaces an 1 peat burning.  I converted them to propane as I couldn't stand the messy ash.   I cannot imagine living without one.

It depends! I guess it's a bit like having a pool. Some people like the optics of a fireplace but would not necessarily use it. Others rather crank up the heatng system for warmth. A fire place in a beach home may be less a desired feature than in a log cabin in a woodsy or rural setting. 

Most homes have a fireplace, even if it is never used. It becomes the focal point of the great room and furniture is placed to accommodate it. Most homes now have gas fireplaces, although the ambiance of wood is special - if you can handle the mess and air quality issues. 

In Midwest, important. We like wood burning here preferrably brick or serious wood mantels.

I like them, I've always used them. Had a drop in type gas fireplace where you thru a lever & you got the flame with the fake logs. Very lame.

I think either is a nice feature. Nothing like the smell of wood burning.

The ease and convenience of gas is nice though.

What does a buyer want is the real question.

Add FP value ONLY of using smokeless fuels such as acholhol and requiring no chimney.
Now it is a fire feature instead of a fire place.
In the land of cranky and old, BBQs and Fireplaces have neighbors calling the police because the smoke disturbs their peaceful enjoyment. Never mind suggesting they can close the window.

I personally like fireplaces.  i've got two--both gas starters, one in Family room and one in living room.  We have "Spare the Air" days where I live, (about 10/year).  It seems they are becoming less and less popular for whatever reason, but some areas in CA (older homes in Sierra Nevada Mountains) this may be their only source of heat.

We have a variety here. Wood, propane, pellet, gas, and several types from zero clearance metal, to huge stone fireplaces. Value can range anywhere from $1000.00 to $30,000.00.

Personally a wood burning fire place is a must !

We have one,

It is gas, and we have not used it.  LOL A

Depends upon many factors.   The house, the location, the desire of the buyer.

  In Florida we didn't care. 

But in the mountains where we now live, we have a wood-burner with a Buck stove insert.   If the electricity is out, and if gas is no longer available (apocalyptic scenario), that fireplace might be the only thing that keeps us from freezing to death.

I think it depends on the area and the person. Some people here don't use a fireplace even if they have one. I use mine a lot in the winter. I often turn it on in the mornings just to take the chill off. It adds a little value to a home but an appraiser doesn't give it the same value as it would take to install one.

Depends on where you are.  If it's Death Valley then no but if it's in the northern cold states the yes it adds value

Personal preferences.  All Real Estate is Local. 

For some folks it is important to have a place to hang the stockings with care.

We live in rural GA where it's important for winter power outages which always happen if we have  snow/ice storm.  Most people want gas logs which are easy, but we have a wood burning stove that we can actually cook on in a power outage.

This is a very local discussion. Here in my area of NW Montana, many houses (most) have a wood stove or fireplace of some sort. It's important to have a backup heat source and wood is plentiful where I am.

A fireplace is allowed in new construction in our area but it cannot be wood burning. It must be gas or electric. Some cities are even banning gas fixtures (fireplace, water heater, stove)in homes!

I converted my wood burning fireplace to a gas unit some years back. One click of the remote and I have a fire that acts as an additional gas heater for that room. Another click and it is off with no ashes, no fear of sparks from a fire that is not quite dead, no need to obtain wood to burn, no smoke to send up in the air.

If I did not have a fireplace, my wife would have more space to decorate.

I think it's important.  It is something I've heard as a good to have by buyers.  I've seen buyers turned off by a lack of one.  Natural wood is no longer allowed (thank Obama for that), so homes with a wood burning fireplace are in demand by preppers and others "in the know."

I think every home in our community has a fireplace. Ours is a gas fireplace to avoid the need for firewood and the related fire risks.

Almost every property in Los Angeles has a fireplace or few and it is almost always a gas one. I personally see no value of it ( I never use mine, since it is warm almost all year around in here), but I love a fireplace in the colder locations. 

There are some people that won't buy a house without a fireplace so there is intrinsic value to having one.  The negative about a fireplace is that it takes up one wall from having furniture.

People love fireplaces and yes, they add value, both to the property and as a personal preference (who doesn't love to feel cozy and watch the fire when there's a blizzard outside?). Those preferences may be regional, depending on weather. In some areas, the FP might be just an attractive part of a room, even without any fire. Wood is great, some consider it too messy and without an insert, much heat is lost. Gas is okay, does throw off heat; cleaner and can be controlled with a remote, but alas, no olfactory gratification - can't smell the burning wood.

It's important to many - others, not so much! I personally want at least one in my home and I prefer gas now that hauling wood is my sole responsibility and it is so much more convenient to flip a switch to turn on the gas logs!

I do still have buyers who prefer wood-burning fireplaces. 

I have a neighbor who is prepping to sell and we've had contractors there for weeks. The inspector said that the gas line was unsafe and the homeowner ripped it out and installed a more modern electric fireplace (inside the masonry FP). It looks surprisingly amazing and puts off some really good heat too!