Pools are as necessary to wealthy LA homebuyers as kitchens, says top agent

Swimming pools in Los Angeles homes are a must, according to California-based real-estate agent Jade Mills.

A Redfin study from March of 2019, found that Los Angeles homes with pools sell for around $95,393 more than homes without a pool.

However, wealthy LA homebuyers are willing to pay a premium for them.

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For wealthy homebuyers in Los Angeles, pools are often a necessity.

California-based real-estate agent Jade Mills was ranked No. 6 on Real Trends' 2019 list of top US real estate professionals by sales volume, represented the buyer of the Playboy Mansion in 2016, and is Beverly Hills' top real-estate agent. She recently told Business Insider that, in Los Angeles, a swimming pool in a luxury home is often seen, not as an amenity, but as a necessity.

Read more: An LA broker who has sold over $5 billion of real estate says wealthy homebuyers are focused on comfort and wellness, and it's influencing what amenities they're looking for

“A swimming pool is a must, it's probably more important than anything else. There are very few homes in our area that will not have a pool,” Mills, who represented 27% of all the homes that sold for over $30 million in the Westside of Los Angeles in 2016, told Business Insider. “It's almost like a kitchen.”

In fact, a study by Redfin found that in 2018, 23% of the homes sold in the Los Angeles metro had a pool.

The Los Angeles Times' Jack Flemming credits the popularity of pools in Los Angeles to the city's attractive weather and lavish lifestyle.

“Summers are sunny, winters are mild, and many luxury listings flaunt an indoor-outdoor lifestyle where backyards are as crucial as any living room or kitchen,” Flemming wrote.

The Redfin study also found that Los Angeles homes with pools sell for around $95,393 more than homes without a pool. And, while the extra cost of a pool may push homebuyers away in affordable areas like Tolleson, Arizona, in some parts of Los Angeles, a home without a pool can be a deal-breaker.