From Built-In Wellness to Flexible Spaces, Elliman Agents Forecast the Top Real Estate Trends for 2025

“Longevity is the new luxury.”

Dedicated home gyms have been popular for years, but the rise in high-end wellness-focused amenities in recent years looks likely to continue. Think saunas, cold-plunge pools, steam rooms, and other spa-like features.

Indeed, they’re already becoming standard features in luxury condominium developments.

“The cold plunge and sauna are now mainstays,” said Aspen-based agent Brittanie Rockhill. “The addition of light therapy and aromatherapy is starting to emerge. Expanding wellness throughout the home—including pumping oxygen into bedrooms and adding hyperbaric chambers—are becoming must-have amenities. Longevity is the new luxury.”

Outdoor, All Year

Outdoor space has become much more desirable since the pandemic, with demand for balconies and access to rooftop decks significantly increasing in New York City over the last few years. But there also has been increased demand for year-round outdoor living spaces beyond the standard patios and backyards.

“The Hamptons, known for its luxury real estate and coastal beauty, is seeing significant shifts in architectural and design trends,” says Bridgehampton, NY-based agent Martha Gundersen. “Homes are being designed with indoor-outdoor transitions for seamless hosting, including large kitchens that open directly to patios.”

Gundersen also noted an uptick in requests for all-weather patios with heated flooring, covered outdoor kitchens, dining areas with retractable screens, and fire pits.

Closing the Open Concept

In recent years, open floorplans have become as far-reaching as, well, open floorplans—and for good reason. Open-concept living and dining spaces create a sense of flow and make entertaining simple. (Plus, it’s easier to keep a direct eye on the kiddos while cooking a meal.) They’re also less expensive to build, making them a popular choice in subdivisions and apartments.

But they may be falling out of fashion in the coming years.

Palm Beach, Fla.-based agent Chris Leavitt finds more buyers want homes with a distinctly separate catering or chef’s kitchen.

“Many of my clients prefer their chefs to be making their surprise creations separate from the main living areas and areas where the family gathers,” he says, citing the Manalapan mansion he represents as a prime example. “We have an incredible open kitchen and then a full chef’s catering kitchen right behind, so you can really show off your kitchen and enjoy it more as a piece of artwork and have a fully functioning chef’s kitchen in a completely separate area. With the design of so many homes being open concept, sometimes this is hard to achieve.”

Room to Flex

More buyers are hoping to get a home with flexible living spaces that can serve multiple functions.

“Buyers now prefer functional layouts that include rooms designed for versatility, whether as a home office, gym, or guest space,” says Dallas agent Mabel Banda. “This trend reflects the need for homes to adapt to evolving lifestyles.”

If you’re looking for a home with a flex space, look for keywords in the listing. A home office, family room, fully finished basement, or loft can all serve a wide variety of purposes.

Beyond Beige

Neutral colors have been dominant in interior design for years, but this trend may be on the way out. Buyers today are looking to replace grey, beige, and, yes, greige with pops of color. This also means that the days of the all-white kitchen may be coming to an end.

“Kitchens are embracing a mix of colors and textures,” says Banda. “Two-toned cabinets—often pairing natural wood with warm earth tones like olive green or terracotta—are in high demand. These palettes create a welcoming, grounded feel that appeals to today’s buyers.”