Amenities go above, beyond

Trying to keep up with the Joneses? Forget about that home entertainment center, bathtub television or outdoor wet bar. According to the Coldwell Banker’s recently released 2007 Luxury Survey, you may need a putting green.

The survey, given to 301 homeowners whose primary residences were worth more than $1 million ($2 million in California), verified a growing industry trend: The bells and whistles that come with a house matter more than its size.

And the bar keeps rising. Luxuries that were once considered exclusive have become commonplace in recent years. Of those surveyed by Coldwell Banker, 72% had a designer kitchen, and an equal number devoted a special room to entertainment. More than a third of respondents had home wine cellars.

Ten percent of owners surveyed had backyard tennis courts. Indoor pools and putting greens were found in similar numbers, and 15% had personal boat docks.

But the quest for luxury doesn’t confine itself to the backyard (or grounds): 23% of luxury homeowners had heated floors, and 11% could make dinner in their master bedroom using that room’s built-in kitchen.

Such a preponderance of amenities has forced those seeking to set themselves apart to look in new directions. Other up-and-coming amenities include specially designed “dog showers” for the family pet and built-in iPod docks for the home sound system.

Having the most up-to-date luxury home on your block doesn’t come cheap. A regulation tennis court, for example, can easily cost $60,000.

But, as Coldwell Banker’s study makes clear, some people put a high price on living in style. In fact, more than a third of those surveyed were considering buying second homes. No word yet on how many putting greens they’ll have.

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sam.byker@latimes.com