Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

The Hottest Features The Rich Are Craving For Their Next Home

The Hottest Features The Rich Are Craving For Their Next Home

Space is the No. 1 priority for real estate hunters in the pandemic era at every level of the market. But for the rich, that means far more than just another bedroom.

Space is the No. 1 priority for real estate hunters in the pandemic era at every level of the market. But for the rich, that means far more than just another bedroom.

Championship-sized tennis courts (not necessarily for playing tennis), a penthouse bedroom that doubles as a garden and Instagram-worthy wine cellars are just a few of the features real estate agents say the well-heeled are craving.

And even as the vaccine rollout gathers pace, experts aren't expecting the desire at the top end of the market for a more resort-like experience to ebb anytime soon.

"Covid has made people reassess the life they want to lead," said Michelle Ciesielski, head of residential research at Knight Frank Australia. "This isn't going away."

Here's a rundown of what's hot right now in the high-end world:

Swimming Pools


Sipping a martini by the pool has always been a mark of the good life. And during the pandemic, its allure has only increased, at least for those who are wealthy enough to afford a swimming pool in their backyard.

From 2015 through to the first three months of 2020 (before everyone knew what Covid-19 meant), about 26% of homes sold each quarter in Greenwich, Connecticut - one of the richest places in the U.S. - had a pool. In the last 12 months, that's jumped to an average of 35% of all sales in a quarter, according to Jonathan Miller, president of appraisal firm Miller Samuel Inc.

"Pools have definitely been a tremendous driver," said Jason Friedman, who is with Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty and specializes in the gilded north shore of Long Island, New York. People who escaped to the area from the city to rent earlier in the pandemic may now be buying, and private amenities, including of the aquatic sort, are pull factors, he said.

Tent-Ready Tennis Courts

In sunny Australia, where pools have long been essential for the rich, it's championship-sized tennis courts that are now attracting buyers.

In 2020, super-prime properties with tennis courts sold on average for 22% more than their court-less peers, according to Knight Frank research.

All that demand is not necessarily being driven by a desire to stay fit or a passion for the sport, though.

"It's a great space for kids to play and to put a marquee in the future for 21st and 40th birthdays," said Adam Ross, who specializes in Sydney luxury sales for Knight Frank. "It's a future-proof investment."

'Indoor-Outdoor' Rooms

It's not only the actual outdoors that have become more important for wealthy house hunters.

Anna Czarnowska of Morpheus London, a high-end residential and hospitality design firm, says demand is rising for indoor spaces that have an outdoorsy vibe.

The most common request during lockdown was for multifunctional space and "biophilic designs" - an approach that attempts to incorporate nature into the built environment, according to Czarnowska. Her team used such principles when building a garden room for a penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront in London. They see the trend continuing beyond the pandemic.

"Even if we are going to go back to normal, I think the fear of these things happening again will remain with us for a long time," Czarnowska said. "So everybody would like to have a home that is multifunctional."

Rickesh Patel, design director at Morpheus, says he is also continuing to see clients ask for such "indoor-outdoor" spaces, particularly in London where garden space comes at a premium. High-end buyers, he says, have been willing to make sacrifices for that outdoorsy vibe. One client who wanted to maximize light coming in from the outside was willing to lose around 150,000 pounds ($206,600) worth of square footage to make space for a big light shaft, Patel said.

All the Toys

With so much more time at home, what's inside has grown in importance. At the practical level, that means his-and-her studies (not just sinks) are increasingly in demand, says Harri Williams-Jones, a super-prime residential development consultant for Savills London.

It doesn't stop there. Wealthy shoppers are also seeking amenities such as gaming facilities in cinema rooms for teenagers and private spas.

"The pandemic has just catalyzed the trends that were already emerging ," said Williams-Jones. "It's not necessarily an absolute paradigm shift, but it's just put more of a focus on people's lifestyles."

And don't forget wine. Far from being something you tuck away in the cupboard, it's now a chance to make an architectural statement with a glamorous room.

Multi-Generational Living

For the ultra-wealthy, having their near and dear close is now worth paying extra for. That means houses big enough to hold parents, grandparents and children - as well as staff quarters - in addition to all the other luxury toys and outdoor space.

Downton Abbey-like country houses - many of which have sat on the market for years - are suddenly a lot more popular. Last year, for instance, wealthy buyers triggered a 1,900% sales surge in British country estates, which have more than enough room for all sides of the family.

"Covid was really the catalyst for it, an excuse to gather together the whole big extended family and go somewhere amazing," said David Forbes, chairman of the Savills Private Office.

Island Paradise

At the start of the pandemic, there was talk of a boom in Caribbean private islands where the ultra rich could sit out Covid by the beach.

A similar trend is now playing out among the merely wealthy. In Hong Kong, top-end agents report that buyers who previously wouldn't have dreamed of looking far from Central, the main business district, are starting to hunt for tranquility.

Will Robertson, executive director of Nest Property, says that particularly for those renting, the more serene areas in the city - such as Clearwater Bay or Sai Kung in the New Territories - are growing in appeal.

As well as being one of the few areas in Hong Kong where you can buy a freestanding home rather than an apartment, it feels a world away from the busy city center.

"The accessibility of beaches and hikes often takes greater significance with residents increasingly more concerned about their health and living environment," Robertson said. "These areas can offer lower-density living."

The other benefit is the price. In the past two months, the most expensive house sold in the Mid-Levels neighborhood went for HK$136,000 ($17,500) per square foot, while the highest price recorded in the New Territories was just HK$39,000 per square foot, according to data provided by Nest Property.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
×