Condo living in 2024 is about more than just space; it’s about the carefully curated amenities that turn buildings into communities.

Gone are the days of a gym, party room, and concierge being most-appreciated amenities – today, they’re considered must-haves. And they’re now joined by things we once may have never imagined in our condo-dwelling lives, like remote offices, wellness spas, pet washes, and cold plunges.

The common denominator is modern-day convenience: amenities that remove the need for residents to leave the building for everyday routines and rhythms. But, as life evolves, so do the types of amenities today’s (and tomorrow’s) condo dwellers desire. While plentiful, not every one of today’s condo amenities are created equal.

So, for the second year in a row, we’re asking : What do today’s condo buyers and dwellers really want and need?

To analyze the rise and fall of amenities in new builds, Spark Real Estate Technologies — a Vancouver-based company that specializes in new development sales and marketing software — once again surveyed a panel of industry experts to learn what they’re seeing in the market. This esteemed panel includes Barrett Sprowson (Vice President, Sales and Project Marketing at Peterson Real Estate);John Lusink (President, RealServus Holding Corp.; Right at Home Realty; Property.ca);Sunny Hahm (Principal at Tandem Real Estate Strategy); Zakiya Kassam (Associate Editor at STOREYS); Mike Rivait, (Director, Sales and Marketing at Gairloch Developments); and Richard Causton (VP of Sales at Spark).

Condo living in 2024 is about more than just space; it’s about the carefully curated amenities that turn buildings into communities.

Gone are the days of a gym, party room, and concierge being most-appreciated amenities – today, they’re considered must-haves. And they’re now joined by things we once may have never imagined in our condo-dwelling lives, like remote offices, wellness spas, pet washes, and cold plunges.

The common denominator is modern-day convenience: amenities that remove the need for residents to leave the building for everyday routines and rhythms. But, as life evolves, so do the types of amenities today’s (and tomorrow’s) condo dwellers desire. While plentiful, not every one of today’s condo amenities are created equal.

So, for the second year in a row, we’re asking: What do today’s condo buyers and dwellers really want and need?

To analyze the rise and fall of amenities in new builds, Spark Real Estate Technologies — a Vancouver-based company that specializes in new development sales and marketing software — once again surveyed a panel of industry experts to learn what they’re seeing in the market. This esteemed panel includes Barrett Sprowson (Vice President, Sales and Project Marketing at Peterson Real Estate);John Lusink (President, RealServus Holding Corp.; Right at Home Realty; Property.ca);Sunny Hahm (Principal at Tandem Real Estate Strategy); Zakiya Kassam (Associate Editor at STOREYS); Mike Rivait, (Director, Sales and Marketing at Gairloch Developments); and Richard Causton (VP of Sales at Spark).

“Investors and homeowners alike are taking a more considered position to evaluate amenity offerings that are future-proofed, that can be maintained well, and will not have substantial risk or increased operational cost,” Hahm says, setting the tone for what to anticipate in this year’s amenity power ranking.

“There’s nothing worse than paying strata fees for amenities you don’t use,” says Spark’s own Causton, expanding on the theme. “This makes it essential for developers to thoroughly understand the current perceived value of each individual amenity.”

The panel ranked each below condo amenity in terms of homeowner desirability in 2024, and assessed whether that ranking is on the rise, unchanged, or falling. The results were then reviewed, consolidated, and curated into the rankings shown below. As you’ll see, there were some surprises when it came to changes from 2023. There were also elements that came as no shock at all.

The bottom line is, amenities must simplify the lives — and cater to the lifestyles — of today’s condo dweller. Notably, now more than ever, this includes families.

“I think housing providers these days are taking time to consider what they can do to make their buildings a better option than a single-family house rather than just a second option, and that’s where the premium, less run-of-the-mill amenities come in,” says Kassam. “Think cold plunge pools, spas and saunas, golf simulators, EV chargers, and amenities geared at accommodating furry friends.”

And, of course, different amenities appeal to different end-users.

“I think all [the amenities] mentioned above are important, but can be very subjective,” says Rivait; he suggests that increased options for families and child programming would enhance the rankings, and explains that his own selections stem from an end-user perspective, rather than a holding investor.

“It’s good to have amenities that appeal to work, active lifestyles, and investors and end users,” he says. “A diverse program is paramount.”

Condo Amenities : 2024 Power Rankings by Storeys Custom Studio