2024 Real Estate Trends: Pickleball Courts and Cold Plunge Pools on the Rise
The real estate market is constantly evolving, and in 2024, several unique features are leading the trends. One surprising trend that has emerged is the explosion of pickleball popularity across the country, with pickleball courts becoming a hot commodity in home sales.
According to Zillow data, the keyword “pickleball” has seen a significant spike in popularity compared to listing descriptions from a year ago. Amanda Pendleton, Zillow’s Home Trends Expert in Seattle, explains that since pickleball is a social sport, having an at-home court has become a sought-after entertaining feature for many homeowners.
Nationwide, Zillow reports that pickleball mentions in listings are up 64% from last year. In New York City, Zillow brand StreetEasy has seen a 100% increase in for-sale listings highlighting a home’s proximity to public or private pickleball courts.
Real estate agents are witnessing homeowners converting their driveways into courts using portable nets, while some ultra-luxury homeowners are even painting new pickleball lines on their existing sport or tennis courts.
Pickleball, a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, can be played both indoors and outdoors on a badminton-sized court using a paddle and a plastic wiffle ball. The USA Pickleball Association describes the sport as “easy to start, but hard to stop.”
Originating in Washington state in 1965, pickleball has gained immense popularity over the years and was declared the official sport of Washington in 2022. Celebrities like Lebron James, Bill Gates, and Marshawn Lynch are known pickleball enthusiasts.
NFL star Travis Kelce reportedly purchased a 17,000-square-foot estate in Kansas City that features a pickleball court, showcasing the sport’s growing influence in the real estate market.
In addition to pickleball, Zillow also reports that cold plunge pools, brutalist design elements, sensory gardens or pathways, and Murano glass chandeliers are among the hot trends for 2024. These unique features are reshaping the real estate landscape and offering homeowners new opportunities to personalize their living spaces.
For more information on the latest housing trends and data, visit Zillow’s website.
