The Hottest Amenities of 2016
We asked our 800+ Compass agents across 10 US cities: What are the year’s top home features?
Words: Shaun Courtney
Illustrations: Jeff Hunt
As technology advances and aesthetics evolve, so, too, do the standards by which we measure luxury. The expansive gardens that for centuries held court now have a formidable rival in the form of vertiginous penthouse terraces. Similarly, as the homes of the elite rise ever higher, subterranean wine cellars have given way to artful, above-ground storage. Other domestic proclivities haven’t changed as markedly. Centuries ago, a legion of household staff was the epitome of grandeur; today, a dedicated concierge or doorman continues to be held in high regard.
Catering to the desires of today’s most discerning tastemakers, Compass agents are at the forefront of these housing trends. And so, to glean insight into what drives today’s buyers, we polled more than 800 members of our agent community, spread across eight markets and 22 offices. Our query: Which features and services are most essential among buyers demanding (or just aspiring to) modern convenience? The responses we received ranged from timeless attributes — panoramic views and at-home spas — to more technical developments surrounding healthier, more intelligent homes.
The following highlights the trends currently ruling residential real estate. Read on as we identify the most esteemed amenities and forecast their future.
1. HEATED FLOORS
Radiant flooring, a favorite of Roman emperors, is making a comeback for obvious reasons (warm feet) and less apparent (energy efficiency and fewer allergens).
2. SUPERIOR STAFFING
From on-call drivers to 24-hour concierges, staff to help with whatever, whenever, is more necessity than luxury for high-end buyers.
3. ELEVATED WINE STORAGE
No longer relegated to stark, windowless cellars, wine is the centerpiece of modern homes where custom displays are crafted of steel and marble.
4. TOP-TIER FITNESS FACILITY
A lone treadmill and handful of free weights no longer suffices as a home gym. Today’s buyers want private pools, boxing studios, and rooftop yoga decks.
5. PRISTINE PANORAMAS
A view of something beautiful — Central Park, the Pacific Ocean, stunning architecture — is priceless.
6. EXCLUSIVE ELEVATOR ACCESS
Whether for privacy (a personal elevator in a large building) or mobility (an in-home elevator in a multi-story residence), elevators are in high-demand and command top dollar.
7. SPA RETREATS
Soaking tubs, saunas, massage tables, and more, once reserved for five-star hotels, are increasingly de rigueur in private residences.
8. INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY
Buyers seek the convenience of an energy-efficient home that cares for itself, from self-cooling on warm days to auto-adjusting the window blinds as the sun sets.
9. GRACIOUS GUEST QUARTERS
Forget the guest bedroom and sleeper sofa; offer visitors a cottage of their own, and they’ll stay awhile. (Like it or not.)
10. OPEN-AIR SPACES
A growing desire to incorporate environment into daily life is best-evidenced by outdoor rooms, complete with carpets, furniture, even brick ovens and showers.
OPEN-AIR SPACES
Between 2011 and 2013, Americans spent more than $26 billion on remodeling out-of-home areas like patios, terraces, swimming pools, and other yard improvements. As homeowners seek to downsize without downgrading, they invest in their outdoor spaces, incorporating furniture, wood-burning ovens, even outdoor showers to extend the usable space. Based on the American Society of Landscape Architects’ 2016 survey results, here are their predictions for this year’s most-requested upgrades.
PRISTINE PANORAMAS
Did you know that a protected view in urban planning-speak is called a viewshed? The visual equivalent of a watershed, they often define their cities. Buyers will pay a premium for an iconic vista; to ensure yours will stand the test of time, seek out these well-preserved vantage points.
“The proliferation of new, mixed-use high-rises in traditionally low-scale Boston brings with it buyers who place great value in a view, from Boston Harbor to Boston Common.” — Jennifer Titus, Boston Vice President
In LA, views of the Mulholland Scenic Parkway are protected. The city requires that homes and development along the parkway are set back from the road, shrouded with native vegetation, and are designed “to fit and blend into the site.”
Landmarked NYC scenery include places like Central Park, Prospect Park, Riverside Park, and Riverside Drive. If you secure a home that looks out on one of these, the odds are in your favor that you’ll be keeping that view.
In DC, views of the US Capitol building from key sites are protected. In fact, architects were recently forced to lop off an entire floor from a proposed new development because it would obstruct sight lines of the city’s famed monument.
More than 8,000 properties are protected by Boston’s Landmarks Commission and the city’s nine local historic district commissions. For a home — and ’hood — legally guaranteed to retain its charm, seek out these perfectly-preserved zones.
TOP-TIER FITNESS FACILITIES
Workout trends vary from market to market. Zeroing in on these differences, Jay Wright, founder of athletic design firm The Wright Fit, has tailored fitness facilities for some of the foremost residential buildings around the world. From Santa Monica to Manhattan, his company’s high-end blueprints run $1,000 per square foot before the cost of equipment and cater to each community’s distinct needs. Check out some of the special requests his company has catered to in Compass markets around the country.
LA: Outdoor Pilates Deck / Tennis Court /Beach Volleyball
“We have incredible demand for private, single-sport facilities in Beverly Hills.
Forget the converted basement as an exercise space; give me a premier boxing ring with full basketball court.”
— Victoria Massengale, LA Estate Director
NYC: Yoga Studio / Cycling Center / Indoor Pool
“When time is your most valuable asset, having your pool or fitness facility be one elevator stop away is invaluable.”
— Kyle W. Blackmon, NYC Associate Broker / Head of Luxury Sales
MIAMI: Cardio Lab / Meditation Garden / Outdoor Pool
“My clients prefer one-on-one personal training whether it be poolside or on
the rooftop of their bayfront home. Today, custom homes come with spas and steam rooms for a whole-body fitness experience.”
—Bobby Jones, Miami Founding Agent
FROM HOTEL TO HOME
Services and amenities once reserved for the world’s utmost resorts have made their way into households around the country. Gain a glimpse into the trends homeowners are importing after the vacation ends.
“My clients are not just buying property; they are maintaining a lifestyle. Busy, sophisticated buyers expect in-house service staff like you find at the best hotels and restaurants.” — Alex Venditti, DC Senior Vice President
MAKE TIME FOR TREATMENTS
The spa offerings of upscale hotels have become less of a perk and more of a regime. Making space to accommodate your in-home masseuse or manicurist will cost much more than your standard shower and commode, though: A private spa bathroom comes in at $600 per square foot compared to $175 for the average bathroom.
VISIBLE VINTAGE
Once top-tier restaurants began putting their wine collection literally on display — rather than tucked away in a dank cave — it was only a matter of time before these custom cabinets arrived in luxury homes. One of the country’s top designers of high-end wine storage, Christine Hawley, only takes on three or four custom cellars a year at about $500,000 per project.
FULL-SERVICE LIVING
The staff -to-resident ratio at one new Los Angeles building is one per every five apartments. These dedicated dynamos can book you a table for dinner, call you a cab, and clean your home while you are out for the evening. A growing trend, buildings increasingly offer on-call personal drivers, 24-hour concierges and, best of all, no early check-out time.
A HOME THAT GROWS
Luxury buyers are considering the future implications of today’s real estate investments, paying for a lasting view or buying homes with the flexibility to accommodate changing lifestyles.
“There is a huge demand for elevators in multistory homes. For a couple who is retiring but not necessarily looking to downsize, an elevator equates to a bigger home that can be enjoyed for years to come.” — Sheila Mooney, DC Vice President
ELEVATING THE EXPERIENCE
Private elevators are found in only one out of every 10,000 listings in the US. As more people opt to “age-in-place,” homes that facilitate multi-floor living without the nuisance of stairs are selling for a premium.
IN-LAW INVESTMENTS
In 2012, 18.1% of the US population lived in multi–generational households — double the number that lived in such households in 1980 — and homes that include guest apartments are now priced 60% higher.
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT
The new development race is for air rights as the space above plots can trade for 50 to 60 percent of what the earth beneath would claim. Not only do air rights give developers the room to build taller, they also guarantee showstopping views for decades to come by requiring neighboring properties give up their right to build skyward.
LOOKING AHEAD
As developers strive to improve their offerings, once-revolutionary features are being pushed to the next level. Here, a peek at what the future holds.
DOORMAN 2.0
Before long, robots may replace human staffers, as previewed by the automated valets within a Zaha Hadid-designed building in NYC’s West Chelsea.
ELEVATORS PULL RANK
In the near future, elevators will self-regulate their service, prioritizing those riders headed to the penthouse and higher floors.
SMART HOMES UP THEIR IQ
By 2022, a typical family home could contain 500+ smart devices, says iControl Network’s State of the Smart Home report.
SKYLINES SHIFT
As urban space grows scarce, prefab structures — like those of NYC–based firm Gluck+ — will stack atop and alongside historic architecture, juxtaposing old and new.
Discover the industry’s most in–depth data—and the homes that reflect it—at compass.com.
