When evaluating a community’s home prices, rents, and sales targets, we consider amenities as major elements of value. Amenities that appeal to various life stages help connect neighbors, friends, and families. As a result, communities achieve higher prices and rents, as well as faster sales and lease-up pace.
We have detailed popular amenities by category and life stage in the graphic below.
Powerful amenities span multiple life stages.
- Open Space: Ascent at the Phoenician (Scottsdale, AZ) backs to Camelback Mountain. Owners enjoy access to one of the most iconic hikes in Arizona and the amenities of The Phoenician resort. This winning combination led to more than $300 million in sales from the initial offering in February 2021 through March 2024. Ascent was formerly a nine-hole golf course. Its parcel was hiding in plain sight.
- Outdoor Recreation: The Lagoon at Windsong Ranch (Prosper, TX) has a five-acre lagoon within its master plan, as well as a pool, a fitness center, and sports courts. In 2020, the National Association of Home Builders recognized it with a Silver Award for Master-Planned Community of the Year. I remember when this property was an old farm with bumpy dirt roads!
- Clubhouse: Martis Camp (Truckee, CA) has an 18,000-square-foot Family Barn, a legend among resort communities. This clubhouse revolves around family fun, with a concert stage, basketball court, bowling alley, and more. The awesomeness of Martis Camp’s amenities is a big reason home listings are north of $6.5 million.
- Social Interaction and Programming (third places): The Exchange Coffee House at The Canyons (Castle Pines, CO) is a “third place,” or a spot to hang out between home and work. The Exchange is open to residents and the public. What starts as a $3 Americano could end as a home sale.
- ?Food and Wellness: The restaurants at Blackberry Mountain (Walland, TN) are so good that they inspire people to buy homes on the property. The culinary experience, mountain views, and wellness amenities bring this quaint Tennessee destination international acclaim.
A destination resort developer once told me he focuses on “creating a million-dollar lifestyle and throwing the home in for free.” With every assignment, we identify the community lifestyle and then crunch the numbers for achievable prices and rents.
We would love to hear what amenities you’ve seen or developed that set communities apart. Contact us if you have questions or want to discuss your current or future projects.
You can submit questions to Dear Consultant here or email us at [email protected].
Oh I’m surprised to see pickle ball courts on there!
Executive Search & Talent Strategy Expert | Driving Organizational Growth Through Strategic Recruitment & Leadership Development | Aligning Top Talent with Business Goals
10 个月What strikes me most is that while there are clear differences in how each of these groups want to live depending on life stage, they really are also very similar in many ways. This creates an opportunity for developers to meet the needs of diverse homebuyers with a thoughtful and strategic approach to planning amenities. Thanks for writing this piece Chris Dorociak.
Real Estate Strategist I SVP
10 个月I had a lot of fun writing this. It brought back fond memories of the best amenities I've seen. I love figuring out how they impact home sales.