The COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding lockdown changed how people live and work in many ways. One significant change is homeowners and potential homebuyers searching for properties that no longer simply provide shelter, but which also contribute to their overall wellness.
According to The Global Wellness Institute in Miami:1
In the latest America at Home Study, 60% of all consumers cited health and wellness as the number one reason they desire certain home features, up 17% from two years prior.
Developers are noticing this trend and are purposely incorporating the desire for increased wellness into home and community designs. For example, interior spaces incorporate as much natural light as possible, with earth tone palettes that create a calming effect.
Additionally, developers are placing strong emphasis on:
- Spaces that encourage healthy routines, such as nooks that can be used for yoga or reading.
- Walkable streets with dedicated dog parks, pickleball courts, or areas for neighborhood connection.
- Smaller homes that need less maintenance over the years.
- Greater connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Potential homebuyers have also shown a strong interest in features that encourage wellness inside the home, including:
- Spacious kitchens that provide space for home cooking.
- Whole-house air and water filtration systems.
- Space for solar panels, to reduce pollution created by power companies.
Many buyers have also expressed a greater desire for walkable neighborhoods and homes near parks or other outdoor spaces.
What This Means for Developers
What does this new trend mean for developers? First, many developers are having to set aside space in their new communities for parks, sports courts, and the like. For example, Rancho Mission Viejo in Orange County, Calif., preserves 75% of its land as open space for its 14,000 residences. 2
Second, it’s vital that developers consider more than just the practicality of a home’s interior. Incorporating small nooks off a home’s living space might not seem practical, but homebuyers may appreciate that space for yoga, reading, quiet work, and the like.
These details can pay off for developers. Rancho Mission Viejo, mentioned above, states that their resale prices are 12% higher than neighboring communities. Home and neighborhoods with incorporated wellness details might also sell faster than those without.
Developers would do well to remember that, while wellness concerns may have become apparent after the pandemic, they don’t seem to be going away anytime soon! Understanding that this is more than just a passing trends will ensure new developments and renovations will appeal to the widest range of buyers and value a home and community at the highest rate possible.
- https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/global-wellness-institute-blog/2026/04/07/wellness-communities-and-real-estate-initiative-trends-for-2026/ ↩︎
- https://www.nar.realtor/news/real-estate-news/home-and-design/wellness-trend-driving-real-estate-price-premiums ↩︎
Inna Ellison is a freelance writer from Tampa, Florida, specializing in SEO content and blogs for contractors, construction companies, and more. Inna is proud to create all her material individually, without AI and other digital help.
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