Characteristics of Luxury Houses

Location

• Realtors state that the three most important elements of any home are "location, location, location." Luxury homes are in desirable locations, whether that is downtown in a big city, on acreage in the countryside or on the beach. These houses are usually in the neighborhood of other luxury residences, and their location gives a high degree of privacy and security to the home owners. Whatever their location, the views from luxury homes are spectacular.

Property Size

• The size of the house and the area of the surrounding land are key elements of luxury houses. Luxury homes tend to be larger, sometimes many times, than average houses. The larger size allows the home owners to have more rooms and to increase the square footage of each room. Guest suites, including a bedroom, bathroom and sitting area, may be in a separate building to the main living space. The grounds around luxury homes are landscaped with features, such as trees and screens, that increase the privacy of the home owners. Houses with large grounds may have separate areas for entertaining, meadows for horses and tennis courts and swimming pools.

Rooms

• As well as the usual sleeping and living spaces, luxury homes have rooms not found in average homes. A gym and a dance studio may be set aside and equipped for exercise. Entertainment areas could include a home theater, a large game room with pool tables, poker tables and arcade games, and even a bowling alley.

Fixtures and Features

• High-end materials, such as marble, granite, imported tile and crystal are essential elements of luxury homes. These materials are quite rare or difficult to obtain, and are valued for their scarcity as well as their aesthetic appeal. Bathrooms are large and sumptuously furnished with state-of-the art showers and tubs, windows for natural light and thick, luxuriously textured towels. The kitchen has professional quality appliances and work spaces, as well as a full range of chef-quality pots, pans and tools. In colder climates, the luxury house has fireplaces in the living areas and maybe even in the sleeping areas.