Wellness Trends Realtors® Need to Know About in 2026

Homes became sanctuaries during the pandemic, but even as the medical impact faded, the focus on wellness at home only strengthened. A home that supports physical and mental well-being encompasses everything from sleep optimization to spas and indoor air quality to calming home spaces.

“The desire for wellness touches buyers at every price point,” said Patrick Southern, a Realtor® with SERHANT in Jersey City. “What buyers get is driven by their budget, with costly homes and luxury rentals having the most bells and whistles.”

Beyond wellness, some communities and luxury condos go a step further to support healthy longevity.

According to the Global Wellness Summit’s The Future of Wellness 2026 Trends report, “Wellness residences optimize the built environment for long-term health, with a focus on things like air quality, water, light, acoustics, walkability, and social connection. Longevity residences typically go a step beyond, offering preventative and diagnostic health services such as biomarker testing, biological age assessment, and artificial intelligence-enhanced screenings, as well as integrated longevity therapies such as hyperbaric oxygen, red light therapy, cryotherapy, and neurofeedback.”

8 WELLNESS TRENDS AT HOME

For some buyers, wellness means better quality air and water, said Southern, while for others, the focus is on physical fitness and recovery from intense workouts. Depending on their priorities and budget, buyers look for:

1. Cleaner Air and Water

Newly built homes must meet stringent requirements for air and water systems, according to Janen Ardia, Realtor®, broker of record, and manager-owner of RE/MAX Heritage Properties in Flanders. “Buyers want a whole-house water filtration system and HEPA filters on their HVACs,” said Ardia. Some of the easiest wellness features to add to a house include a better HVAC system with an automated high-end filtration system for fresh air, said Southern.

“In kitchens, some people install built-in water bottle fillers with chilled purified water, along with induction cooking to eliminate gas from the air,” said Maura Mills, a Realtor® with Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty in Princeton.

2. Healthy Homes

Buyers ask about low VOC paints and even the new paints that help purify the air, said Ardia. New construction homes have radon systems built-in, but in existing homes, Ardia recommends sellers buy a radon monitor.

“Buyers have high expectations and some of them even ask about the insulation, since some insulation products like Rockwool are more environmentally friendly, mold resistant and fire resistant,” said Max Stokes, a Realtor® with Keller Williams Village Square in Ridgewood.

3. Fitness Options

A recent survey of luxury home buyers by RE/ MAX found that 59% said home gyms are a priority, and 47% want a sports court for pickleball, basketball, and tennis. Buyers looking at existing homes often ask about a high ceiling in the basement for their home gym equipment, said Stokes.

“Buyers want their home gyms to be prettier if they can, sometimes over the garage into a brighter space instead of a dark basement,” said Mills.

4. Saunas, Steam Rooms, and Cold Plunges

The RE/MAX survey found that 41% of luxury buyers want a sauna or steam room. Infrared saunas are the latest trend that buyers want at home, if possible, along with a cold plunge pool for after a workout, said Mills. In one of Southern’s listings, the owner built a cold plunge pool and an infrared sauna on a rooftop deck overlooking Manhattan.

5. Better Sleep Through Lighting

A combination of blackout shades, natural lighting, and lower room temperatures at night provide sleep optimization benefits, said Southern.

“A new trend people ask about is setting up a Circadian lighting system that mimics the time of day for better sleep and moods,” said Mills.

6. Serene Spaces

The desire for a calm home leads some buyers to request additional insulation and a small private space for meditation or yoga, said Ardia. “Even healthy plants can generate a more zen feeling at home,” said Ardia. “Quieter appliances and good storage to keep everything neater can generate a sense of calm, while a sound system throughout the house can make it a nice place to come home to for relaxation.”

7. Community Amenities

“Buyers today are concerned about walkability in their community, along with proximity to amenities such as golf, tennis, coffee shops, and fitness facilities,” said Keith Kernan, Realtor® and managing broker of Ward Wight Sotheby’s International Realty in Spring Lake, Sea Girt, Manasquan, and Asbury Park.

Stokes said many buyers now add proximity to their Pilates or yoga studio to their short list of needs for their home search.

8. Connection to the Outdoors

“Our lives are so busy now that people want their homes to be tranquil, filled with natural light and connected to the outdoors,” said Mills. “People want outdoor kitchens and dining, and they want to grow their own healthy foods.”

While the desirability of indoor-outdoor living isn’t new, connecting it to healthy living has become more of a priority. For example, at the Atlantic Club Residences in Long Branch, the developer includes a private terrace for each unit, with the oceanfront terraces as large as 1,100 to 1,800 square feet to accommodate a hot tub or cold plunge, according to Teresa Minnick, a Realtor® with Christie’s International Real Estate and director of sales at The Atlantic Club Residences. “People want a lifestyle that helps them relax and stay fit, so this community includes both private spaces and 75,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities for fitness and wellness,” said Minnick. “There are multiple fitness rooms for different activities and gathering areas for social connection.”

“The importance of wellness features is likely to become more important and more affordable over time,” said Southern. “Trends often start first among wealthy people and then become more accessible to other buyers.”

5 TIPS TO SELL WELLNESS

1. Listen

Ask questions and listen carefully to buyer priorities that can be addressed with wellness features, said Southern.

2. Sell a Lifestyle

“It’s easy for buyers to find out how many bedrooms and bathrooms a property has,” said Ardia. “Instead, describe the experience of sitting in a hot tub on a deck with views of the trees at sunset—something that helps them see the life they could create in the home.”

3. Stage Creatively

If a space is too small to be a bedroom, stage it with an exercise bike or as a yoga room, said Stokes.

4. Educate Buyers

“If your sellers put in a saltwater pool, tell buyers about the health benefits of that choice,” said Kernan. “Ask your sellers everything about their house so you can explain it to buyers.”

5. Check for Code Compliance

If your buyers want to add a cold plunge or an infrared sauna, make sure they hire a contractor and check for ventilation, drainage, and electrical connections, said Stokes.