Luxury Living: What’s In and What’s Out?
In Southern California's luxury real estate market, indoor-outdoor living continues to dominate with an emphasis on expansive sliding glass walls and resort-style pool areas featuring outdoor kitchens and entertainment zones. Wellness-focused amenities are increasingly essential, with dedicated home spas, meditation gardens, and gym spaces becoming standard in high-end properties.
Smart home integration has evolved beyond basic automation to include sophisticated security systems, climate-controlled wine rooms, and whole-home water filtration. While the all-white minimalist aesthetic is fading, warm, organic materials and biophilic design elements are gaining momentum.
Home offices have transformed into multi-functional workspaces with professional-grade video conferencing setups and sound absorption technology. Out are formal dining rooms and basic home theaters; in are flexible entertainment spaces and private sports courts. Sustainability features like solar power systems and electric vehicle charging stations are no longer optional but expected, particularly in coastal areas like Newport Beach where eco-conscious luxury buyers predominate.
- When you need to work on your credit. Maybe your credit score is just starting to recover, but you need more time to pay down debts for a couple of years. With rent-to-own, you could start investing in a home while you bring up your score.
- You’re close, but not quite ready to secure a mortgage. You might have a good job with a significantly bigger salary, but you haven’t been there long enough for a lender to consider it a stable source of income. Or maybe you’re self-employed and you’re still building a reliable track record. Rent-to-own allows time to build personal wealth and financial credibility while working toward your homeownership goals.
- When you know you’re going to buy when the lease expires. If you’re not ready to buy when the lease expires, then you will lose any rent credit, i.e. investment, you’ve put into the home.
