Forget granite countertops. Homebuyers now say this is their No. 1 priority

Some Americans are giving new meaning to the proverb that your home is your sanctuary. The at-home wellness trend continues to evolve and grow, with the global market for wellness real estate projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2030, according to the latest figures from the Global Wellness Institute. This market has nearly tripled since 2019, the organization found, and the U.S. alone accounted for nearly 29% of related spending in 2025. While a sauna or a cold plunge were the go-to among many wellness-minded homeowners just a few years ago, things are changing. Now, “invisible wellness” is the next big home trend, as House Beautiful declared in March, which means things like circadian lighting, nature-inspired spaces, scentscaping, and the choice of color palettes. The traditional markers of what constituted “luxury” real estate are changing as aging millionaires, in particular, are prioritizing features that extend independent living, according to a mid-year luxury outlook report released this week by Sotheby’s International Realty. Aging in place is a growing concern among homebuyers shopping for luxury homes that sell for $10 million and up, according to roughly 38% of real es…