Why I Tell My Clients to Skip the Home Gym Room and Buy This Instead
Sarah paid $35,000 extra for a house in Plano, Texas specifically because it had a "dedicated home gym space" — a converted garage with rubberized flooring and mirrored walls. Two years later, that room stores Christmas decorations and her kids' bikes.
She's not alone. The pandemic created a home gym craze that drove up property values, but the math doesn't work the way most people think.
The Home Gym Premium That Doesn't Pay Off
Homes marketed with dedicated fitness spaces command 8-12% higher prices in suburban markets like Phoenix and Atlanta. That's an extra $40,000-60,000 on a typical $500,000 home.
But here's what real estate agents don't tell you: these spaces rarely add equivalent value at resale.
A 2023 analysis by Redfin found that home gym features ranked 47th out of 50 amenities that buyers actively search for. Below wine cellars. Below butler's pantries. Even below "she sheds."
The reason? Most home gyms become expensive storage rooms within 18 months.
What Smart Buyers Do Instead
I tell my clients to buy the cheaper house without the gym and invest that $40,000 difference in a high-yield savings account earning 5.2% (like Marcus by Goldman Sachs) plus a solid gym membership.
Here's the math:
- $40,000 invested at 5.2% annual return: $2,080 per year in interest
- Premium gym membership (Equinox, Lifetime Fitness): $200-300/month = $2,400-3,600/year
- Basic membership (Planet Fitness, LA Fitness): $120-240/year
With a basic membership, you're actually making money. With a premium gym, you're only out-of-pocket $520-1,520 annually while getting professional equipment, classes, and social interaction.
That's way better than staring at a dusty Peloton in your garage.
The Surprising Winner: Walkable Neighborhoods
Instead of hunting for home gyms, look for neighborhoods with walk scores above 70. These areas consistently appreciate 2-3% faster than car-dependent suburbs.
Take Capitol Hill in Seattle. The median home price jumped from $650,000 in 2019 to $890,000 in 2024 — a 37% increase. Meanwhile, similar homes in car-dependent Bothell only rose 22%.
Walkable neighborhoods offer built-in fitness opportunities:
- Daily errands become cardio sessions
- Dog parks and trails encourage outdoor activity
- Less driving stress improves mental health
- Lower transportation costs (AAA estimates $12,182 annually per car)
When Home Fitness Space Actually Makes Sense
I'm not completely anti-home gym. But be strategic about it.
Multi-purpose spaces work better than dedicated gyms. Look for:
- Finished basements that can host workouts and family game nights
- Three-season porches perfect for yoga and dinner parties
- Large master bedrooms where you can roll out a yoga mat
Skip the specialized features like:
- Built-in mirrors (they make spaces feel smaller to future buyers)
- Specialized flooring (expensive to change)
- Built-in equipment (it becomes outdated)
Buy portable equipment instead. A complete home setup costs $500-2,000:
- Adjustable dumbbells: $300-500
- Resistance bands: $30-80
- Yoga mat: $40-100
- Pull-up bar: $25-60
The Real Estate Reality Check
Homes sell based on bedrooms, bathrooms, and location. Always.
A fourth bedroom adds $15,000-25,000 in most markets. A home gym adds maybe $5,000-8,000, and only if the next buyer actually wants one.
I've seen too many clients sacrifice an extra bedroom or better school district for a fancy fitness room they'll rarely use.
Prioritize the fundamentals:
- Location with good schools or walkability
- Adequate bedrooms for your family size plus one
- Updated kitchen and bathrooms
- Solid bones (roof, HVAC, plumbing)
Everything else is gravy.
Your Next Move
Before you fall in love with that house featuring a "resort-style home gym," calculate what that premium could earn in index funds instead. Run the numbers on gym memberships in your area.
Most importantly, be honest about your workout habits. If you haven't consistently exercised at home for six months, a fancier room won't change that behavior.
The best fitness investment isn't always the one attached to your mortgage.