In today’s housing market, buyers are told that a swimming pool, rooftop terrace, fireplace, sauna, or even a penthouse view is what defines a “modern” home. Real estate ads frame them as lifestyle essentials. But when you look closer, these so-called essentials often turn out to be luxuries with hidden costs: higher property taxes, bigger insurance premiums, expensive upkeep, and safety concerns.
This article explores whether these features are truly necessary, or whether they are simply luxuries that many homeowners regret once the bills arrive.
Swimming Pools: Prestige with a Price Tag
A pool remains one of the most powerful luxury home features, often adding prestige and raising property value in warm regions by five to seven percent. Families see it as an investment in health, leisure, and entertainment.
Yet the disadvantages quickly appear. The cost of maintaining a swimming pool per year ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 for cleaning, heating, and chemicals. Property taxes typically rise by $500 to $1,500, and insurers add 10 to 20 percent to premiums because of liability risks. Municipalities often require safety fences and alarms, adding more expense.
For buyers in Quebec or Northern Europe, the pool season is short, making upkeep harder to justify. What feels like a dream in Florida or Dubai can feel like a financial burden in Montreal or Berlin.
Rooftop Terraces: Urban Luxury or Hidden Liability?
Since the pandemic, the value of rooftop terraces has surged. They give city dwellers a private outdoor escape and can increase resale prices by 10 to 15 percent. For many, a terrace feels like an essential space for gardening, fresh air, or entertaining friends.
But there are disadvantages. Building one may require $10,000 to $50,000 in permits and structural work. Even after construction, owners spend $500 to $1,500 annually on waterproofing and railing maintenance. Insurance companies often raise premiums by five to ten percent due to fall risks and leaks.
In short, a terrace is an asset in Paris or New York, but in snowy climates, it can be as much a liability as a luxury.
Penthouses: Status Above All
Penthouses sit at the top of the market, both literally and financially. They offer privacy, panoramic views, and often a 25 to 30 percent resale premium compared to regular apartments. For wealthy international buyers, they are the definition of status.
Still, disadvantages dominate for most households. The purchase price is 25 to 50 percent higher per square foot, condo fees can reach $1,000 to $5,000 per month, and insurance premiums are often double. While the lifestyle is unmatched, few buyers can afford to sustain it. For the majority, the penthouse remains a luxury dream, not an essential.
Fireplaces and Fumoirs: Charm Meets Regulation
A fireplace still symbolizes warmth and tradition. In chalets or rustic homes, it adds resale value and can save $200 to $500 per winter in heating bills. Fumoirs and outdoor fire pits add similar charm for entertaining.
The disadvantages, however, are growing. A wood fireplace requires $500 to $900 worth of wood each year, plus $150 to $300 for chimney sweeping. Insurance premiums rise by five to fifteen percent because of fire risk. Many cities, including Montreal and Paris, now restrict or ban wood burning altogether.
Gas or electric fireplaces avoid some of these issues, but they still require permits and inspections. For many homeowners, charm comes with regulation and cost.
Saunas: Wellness or Energy Drain?
In Finland, the sauna is treated as essential — nearly every home has one. For Nordic buyers, it carries cultural significance and adds strong resale appeal. Health benefits like stress relief and improved circulation also make saunas desirable in wellness-focused markets.
Elsewhere, disadvantages stand out. A home sauna costs $3,000 to $10,000 to install, and electricity adds $500 to $2,000 per year. Fire risks and overheating are concerns, and outside Scandinavia, a sauna rarely adds much to resale value. The reality is that while it offers wellness, the sauna electricity consumption makes it an expensive luxury in most homes.
Financial and Legal Realities
All of these “modern essentials” share one truth: the bills keep coming long after installation. Swimming pools raise property taxes and insurance. Rooftop terraces demand waterproofing and city permits. Fireplaces require wood and annual inspections, while saunas increase energy use. Penthouses bring the steepest long-term costs with monthly fees and higher insurance.
Renovations are part of the cycle: pumps and liners every 10 years, chimneys every 15, terrace resurfacing every decade. These are not one-time expenses — they are ongoing financial commitments.
Global Perspectives
- North America: Pools and hot tubs are suburban icons, while penthouses dominate big cities.
- Europe: Terraces are highly valued, fireplaces heavily regulated, and saunas normalized in Scandinavia.
- Middle East and Gulf States: Pools and terraces are expected in villas, but water scarcity questions sustainability.
- Asia: Penthouses are symbols of extreme wealth in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Safety and Sustainability
Every feature has safety and sustainability concerns. Pools pose drowning risks and waste water. Terraces risk falls and leaks. Fireplaces produce smoke and emissions. Saunas draw heavy electricity. Penthouses are exposed to wind and roof damage.
The environmental footprint of these luxuries often outweighs their lifestyle benefit — especially as global cities impose stricter building and energy rules.
Final Comparison at a Glance
| Feature | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming Pool | +5–7% resale, prestige, leisure, health | $2K–$5K upkeep, +$500–$1.5K taxes, +10–20% insurance, short seasonal use |
| Rooftop Terrace | +10–15% resale, valuable outdoor space | $10K–$50K build, $500–$1.5K upkeep, +5–10% insurance, weather risks |
| Penthouse | +25–30% resale premium, privacy, views | 25–50% higher price, $1K–$5K monthly fees, double insurance |
| Fireplace/Fumoir | Cozy charm, saves $200–$500 in heating | $500–$900 wood, $150–$300 sweeping, +5–15% insurance, urban restrictions |
| Sauna | Health benefits, cultural appeal | $3K–$10K install, $500–$2K yearly energy, fire risk, limited resale appeal |
Conclusion
Modern housing continues to blur the line between essentials and luxuries. Pools, terraces, fireplaces, saunas, fumoirs, and penthouses bring comfort and prestige, but also higher costs, legal requirements, and environmental trade-offs.
The glossy images in real estate ads rarely show the long-term expenses — from swimming pool maintenance costs to fireplace insurance, from rooftop terrace repairs to sauna electricity bills. What is sold as a lifestyle upgrade is often a financial and practical burden.
For homeowners, the real question is not whether these features are possible, but whether they are worth sustaining year after year.
Read More from Curianic
- Things I Stopped Buying — and Why I Don’t Envy Luxury Homes Anymore – Rethinking what “luxury” really means — and why less can sometimes add more value to life.
- Buying or Renting a Home Worldwide: The Complete Guide for Locals and Foreign Buyers – A practical look at global housing markets, from ownership rules to hidden costs.
- Floating Homes, Moving Wheels, and Mountain Retreats: How Alternative Living Became Both Survival and Luxury – Exploring unconventional housing choices that challenge the idea of what “modern living” should be.
- The Real Cost of Living Abroad: Taxes, Culture, and Surprising Price Gaps Worldwide – A global comparison of everyday expenses — revealing where life is truly affordable and where “luxury” comes with a hidden price.
