Homebuying Trends 2026: 4 Must-Have Amenities and 5 To Skip
Written by
Gabrielle Olya
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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If you’re thinking about buying a home in 2026, you’re not alone. A recent REMAX survey found that 88% of prospective buyers plan to purchase a home in the coming year — but they’re choosy about where they’ll invest. Neighborhood amenities are playing a bigger role than ever in a home’s desirability, even if some features add thousands to the price tag.
Here’s what buyers say they’ll pay extra for — and which perks they’re skipping.
Top Amenities Buyers Will Pay More For
The survey found that 60% of prospective buyers would pay a premium for shared community amenities, like pools and gyms, with 76% of these buyers willing to pay 5% or more of the home’s price for such amenities. One reason that buyers are so willing to pay more upfront is that having shared amenities saves them money in the long term.
“There is buying power in numbers,” said Anthony Askowitz, broker-owner at REMAX Advance Realty II.
It’s easier to afford a townhome or a single-family home with no pool and access to a community pool than it is to buy a large home with its own pool.
“There are maintenance costs to think of, too, so a community pool is a plus,” Askowitz said.
Shared gyms and pickleball courts are also an invaluable perk.
“Pickleball has become increasingly popular, yet neighbors don’t want the noise in communities where homes are built closer together,” Askowitz said. “Community courts are a great answer. They offer the additional benefit of meeting neighbors with interests in common.”
Other most-wanted neighborhood amenities include:
- Grocery stores and shopping (29%)
- Restaurants and cafes (20%)
- Parks, outdoor spaces and community gardens (17%)
Amenities Buyers Don’t Value in 2026
The survey also identified the amenities buyers find least valuable. These include:
- Bike share programs or storage facilities (10%)
- EV charging stations (7%)
- Entertainment and nightlife venues (5%)
- Coworking spaces (4%)
Askowitz has also seen a decline in demand for community golf courses.
“They are expensive to maintain and expensive to play on,” he said. “We are seeing fewer of them offered, with the exception of in luxury communities.”
How To Decide Which Amenities Are Worth It
If you’re planning to buy a home in the coming year, you may have your own list of desired amenities. Whether something is worth the added cost depends on your personal lifestyle and your financial situation.
“Every amenity offered has a corresponding fee to the homeowners — even if they don’t use that amenity,” Askowitz said. “Yes, having a community gym will typically be less expensive than paying for a personal membership on your own — but will you use it, and does it include the quality of equipment of the type you need?”
However, he noted that even amenities you don’t use can be valuable from a resale perspective.
“Those amenities will add resale value for other buyers who will believe they are necessary,” he said.
Amenities can influence both your lifestyle and your home’s resale value, but not every perk is worth the premium. Before you buy, weigh the cost against how often you’ll use the feature — and consider future demand. Even if you never hit the pickleball court, the right amenities could make your home more attractive to the next buyer.
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