Pandemic-Era Premium Still Brings In Big Bucks

During the pandemic, when people were spending more time at home, certain home features saw their popularity surge. Home shoppers wanted more space, privacy, bonus rooms, and anything that could make their home more functional, comfortable, and enjoyable. Hannah Jones, senior economic researcher for the National Association of Realtors’ consumer website, says pools were one of the most highly coveted features. “This surge in demand for features like pools translated into a substantial ‘pool premium,’ where homes featuring a pool commanded significantly higher asking prices compared to their pool-less counterparts,” Jones says. How substantial? Well, at its peak, the pool premium reached 61 percent. That was in January 2022. Since then, price premiums have come down. Pools, though, have held onto some of their pandemic-era popularity. In fact, according to the most recent numbers, the typical home for sale with a pool is priced at just under $600,000, compared to $389,000 for homes without pools.