Fads in condo facilities: What’s fading?

What makes a buyer fall in love with a condominium or serviced apartment project?

For decades, Malaysian developers relied on a reliable formula of facilities to lure prospective homeowners. From an Olympic-sized swimming pool to a fully equipped gym, a lush rooftop garden or the prestige of a private tennis court, these offerings were the pinnacle of attractions.

However, lifestyle shifts, technological advances and evolving demographic trends have drastically altered buyer expectations.

New data on home buyer amenities released by Juwai IQI reveal that consumer preferences have undergone a massive shift. By analysing over 230,000 residential property transactions across Malaysia since 2018, the real estate group has mapped out which condominium amenities are standing the test of time, which are falling out of favour and which futuristic upgrades will soon redefine modern living.

The takeaway is clear. Static, high-maintenance facilities are giving way to dynamic, practical and tech-driven additions.

Developers who misread these signals risk leaving units unsold, while those who adapt are setting new benchmarks for Malaysian real estate.

Out with the old

There was a time when a private tennis court was the ultimate symbol of suburban luxury in high-rise living.

Iconic older developments, such as Desa Damansara in Kuala Lumpur’s prestigious Damansara Heights, proudly showcased tennis courts as central selling points. Today, however, these vast concrete spaces are increasingly viewed as underutilised liabilities.

According to Juwai IQI co-founder and group chief executive officer Kashif Ansari, tennis and squash courts have officially lost their appeal among modern property buyers. Ansari explained: “They take up too much space, cost too much to maintain and don’t get enough use.”

In a market where space is at a premium and maintenance fees are scrutinised, low-yield amenities are losing out. In the Klang Valley, typical condominium maintenance fees average between 25 sen and 50 sen per sq ft (psf), with high-end projects commanding double that rate.

Because security, high-speed elevators, landscaping and swimming pools already consume the lion’s share of operating budgets, residents are unwilling to subsidise massive facilities that sit empty for most of the week.

Instead of building new tennis courts, innovative developers and joint management bodies (JMBs) are retrofitting existing spaces to align with current fitness crazes.

Enter pickleball and padel. Because a developer can fit as many as four pickleball courts within the footprint of a single traditional tennis court, converting these spaces maximises utility, fosters community engagement and drastically improves space efficiency.

What’s sticking?

While racket sports fade into the background, a new suite of essential amenities has emerged.

Contemporary buyers expect classic standards like barbecues and infinity pools to be supplemented by modern lifestyle catalysts. Parcel lockers, co-working lounges, EV charging stations and dedicated pet facilities have quickly transitioned from luxury novelties to fundamental expectations.

Among these, the explosion of pet-centric facilities highlights a profound cultural shift in Malaysian households. “Pets are extremely important to buyers today and are given almost the same care and attention as children,” noted Ansari.

With more than half of Malaysian households owning a pet and nearly a quarter keeping multiple animals, developers are capitalising on the pet-parenting trend. Standard pet-friendly policies are no longer enough.

Modern developments are actively incorporating pet-friendly parks, dedicated grooming rooms and on-site pet salons.

Looking ahead, Malaysia is expected to adopt trends already gaining traction across neighbouring South-East Asian markets, such as dedicated pet play areas and supervised on-site pet daycare centres.

For a growing demographic of buyers, a condominium’s policy and infrastructure regarding pets is now a primary dealbreaker.

The next frontier

While physical amenities like pickleball courts and pet salons address today’s needs, the next major disruption in condominium facilities lies in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation.

Malaysian buyers are already clamouring for AI-powered convenience tools, including facial recognition access points, digital smart locks and automated climate control systems. However, the next technological leap will see autonomous robotics integrated directly into residential property management and daily concierge services.

“Robots are coming and we are going to love the convenience they offer,” said Ansari. “Soon, delivery robots will bring food and groceries directly to your door whether you live in a landed community or a high-rise.”

While autonomous doorstep delivery is already operational in countries like South Korea and Japan, Malaysia is quickly catching up. A key pioneer in this space is AI Living, a planned 46-storey high-rise development by I-Bhd in Shah Alam, Selangor, which claims a leadership role in robot-integrated residential living.

Crucially, the robotic revolution will not be limited to newly constructed futuristic towers. Existing older buildings can seamlessly adapt to autonomous delivery and cleaning bots through simple cloud retrofits.

Leading elevator manufacturers such as KONE and Otis have developed application programming interface solutions that allow elevators installed within the last 30 years to communicate directly with robots via the cloud. Using these systems, a delivery or cleaning robot can call an elevator, select the appropriate floor and navigate directly to a resident’s front door without requiring human intervention.

Similarly, in gated landed housing schemes, autonomous gate-to-door delivery rovers are poised to manage the last leg of parcel delivery, streamlining security gate logistics and enhancing resident privacy.

Adapt or become obsolete

As developers navigate limited budgets and physical footprints, choosing the optimal mix of facilities has become a delicate balancing act. The cost of getting it wrong is steep, leading to stagnant sales and long-term depreciation.

Facilities in high-rise properties are no longer just static leisure spaces meant to look good only in sales brochures or marketing video clips. They must deliver genuine daily utility, lower maintenance friction and reflect how people actually live, work and care for their families.

In the span of just a few years, the landscape of residential amenities has transformed completely. Buyers no longer judge a project by its outdated facilities but by its innovations for convenient living.

Within the next five years, any building that fails to integrate smart capabilities and adaptable facilities will seem old-fashioned.

Modern developers who embrace these shifts are not just building homes for today but future-proofing the communities of tomorrow.