Not long ago, the “dream home” checklist in Minnesota was simple: a finished basement, a decent yard, and maybe a three-stall garage if you were lucky. But today, that wish list is getting more specific—and more expensive. Amenities like golf simulators, pickleball courts, and even batting cages are gaining traction in homes, according to a 2026 home trend report by Zillow.

“Golf simulators are popping up in 25% more listings on Zillow, while pickleball courts are also up 25%, reflecting the sport’s rapid rise in popularity,” the report notes. “Even batting cages showed growth with 18% more mentions, underscoring the shift toward active, personalized play at home.”

The report continues to say this isn’t just a high-end “man cave” phenomenon anymore. In fact, it reflects a shift in what a home’s traditional “rec room” looks like. In the past, these spaces held more passive furnishings like billiards tables, pinball machines, or entertainment centers. Now, a demand for more active skill-building is changing things up.

There are a few driving forces behind the rise of sport-specific recreation spaces:

1. More time at home. Hybrid work and flexible schedules mean people are spending more of their day in the house. A spare bedroom that sits empty five days a week starts to feel wasteful compared to a gym or simulator that would potentially be used daily.
2. The financial draw. People still want entertainment and stress relief, but they’re increasingly investing in home-based experiences, especially since dining, travel, and recreation all cost more than they did a few years ago.
3. Wellness and lifestyle preferences. Home design trends are increasingly centered on well-being and personalized spaces, reflecting a shift in what buyers want in a home.

In new construction, these spaces are easier to plan for. Builders can design ceiling heights, mechanical layouts, and room dimensions to support a gym or simulator from day one. That makes the process smoother overall, but of course, it also adds cost to the base price of the home.

In a remodel, homeowners can phase improvements over time. But basements, specifically, come with constraints, including moisture control, HVAC capacity, and more. Many of these projects start small and soon evolve to be much larger than the homeowner was ever expecting.

So, the question remains: Are these features really considered luxury anymore?

For higher-income buyers, golf simulators and dedicated gyms are moving toward expected. They’re becoming part of the modern suburban package alongside features like walk-in closets or mudrooms.

But for many Minnesotans, these elements are still firmly in the “nice to have” category. That’s the tension: As homes get more expensive, the market rewards houses with more amenities. Yet every additional square foot and upgrade pushes entry-level housing further out of reach.