Luxury Real Estate Trends in L.A. Are All About the Wow Factor
1/10Luxury real-estate trends in Los Angeles are like sequels to blockbuster action movies: Everything is bigger, more high-tech, and most definitely over the top. “What people are trying to do now is separate themselves from the rest and put something in their home that no one else has,” says Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles star James Harris on behalf of Trulia. “Developers want to stand out,” he adds, so putting in out-there amenities is a smart way to get spec houses noticed in a sea of otherwise similar homes.
Perhaps the most extreme example of one-upmanship among developers is the $500 million spec mansion currently under construction in Bel Air. The 100,000-square-foot home will have a 6,000-square-foot master suite, plus a jellyfish room and an ice room, which are exactly what they sound like.
2/10Mega Master Suites
“Our clients are looking for amenities like dual master baths,” says Josh Reef, a real-estate agent at Hurwitz-James Co. He says they also want steam showers with a rainshower showerhead and jets along the interior, plus a separate tub in master baths, which tend to be around 500 to 750 square feet.
3/10Wine Rooms
Oenophiles in the Beverly Hills market are looking for more than a little wine fridge, and developers are responding accordingly. “Wine cellars are very important,” Reef says, “and I’m seeing more underground tasting rooms, some with seating for up to eight.”
4/10Screening Rooms
“A big thing in L.A. is screening rooms,” says Redfin agent Alec Traub. And these aren’t just small spaces within the main residence. “I’m seeing more that are in a detached building along with a gym, or guesthouses with theaters.”
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5/10Wellness Centers
A trend that Harris has noticed in new home construction is wellness centers, either in the main residence or in a separate building. There’s no set layout for these structures, and they include everything from saunas, spas, hair salon and barbershop chairs, cold plunge pools, and Egyptian baths.
6/10Double the Appliances
“I’m seeing two of everything, like dishwashers, stoves, and fridges in separate areas, especially in open-concept homes,” Traub says. Though buyers love the look of an open floor plan, it’s not the ideal setup for entertaining, so they want to keep some things–like kitchen prep areas–out of sight.
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7/10Nightclubs
Whether the goal is to avoid the paparazzi or just have the ultimate party house, Harris says that he’s seeing more at-home nightclubs in spec houses in the Hollywood Hills.
8/10Better-Looking Vents
Even HVAC vents are getting an overhaul in newer homes. “Instead of a standard grill, vents are more nondescript, so there’s a merging of function with aesthetics,” Traub says.
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9/10Home Automation
“High-end buyers want to walk in the door and control everything in the house–or do it from their phone before they even get home,” Traub says. “I’m seeing a lot more home automation as the technology matures.”
10/10Upgraded Pools
In L.A., it’s not enough to have a pool in your backyard. “A must is the infinity-edge pool,” Reef says. And chlorine is passé: Traub notes that saltwater pools are the most sought-after.
