Airpark Homes Gaining Popularity: Exclusive Fly-In Communities That Offer a Runway to Your Doorstep

If you’ve ever dreamed of ditching traffic to travel by plane, an airpark community could be the answer.

Residential air parks are communities organized around airports, with mandatory direct access from homes to runways, allowing homeowners to park their private aircraft in hangars adjacent to their homes.

For the private pilot or aviation enthusiast, airparks offer unparalleled convenience, cutting the time it takes to be airborne to minutes after leaving home.

When used for commuting, airparks can also transform a remote location into an effective suburb of a major metro that is well outside of easy driving distance, allowing residents to fly into the city several times a week for work. , shopping or recreation.

However, the convenience of air parks often comes at a price. According to an analysis by the Realtor.com® economic research team, home listings that included keywords related to airparks were priced at a 30% premium over other listings, after controlling for other variables such as home size and location. .

Realtor.com Senior Economist Ralph McLaughlin, himself a certified commercial pilot and flight instructor, says there are probably two main reasons for the price premium on parking homes: utility jet owners benefit from the ability to directly access a connecting route from their home, and the higher purchasing power of aircraft owners and pilots.

“Aircraft ownership, while not as expensive as you might think, tends to come with higher costs and higher income required to maintain and operate that aircraft, and this tends to be found primarily in families with higher income,” he says.

How many air parks are there?

The world’s first residential aviation community was Sierra Sky Park in Fresno, CA.

Originally established in 1946 and still active today, the neighborhood features a runway surrounded by suburban homes, many of which have garages large enough for a private jet and several cars, or backyard hangars for aircraft storage.

Today, there are about 700 air parks across the US, according to a database maintained by Living With Your Plane. Texas has the most, with 84, followed closely by Florida with 80.

Southeast Florida in particular is home to many airpark communities where homeowners can simply park their aircraft in their driveways.

The Aero Club, located in Wellington, FL, near Palm Beach, is an air park community where homes can be built with private hangars. Residents have access to a private, 4,000-foot-long runway.

Nearby, in Jupiter, FL, the Tailwinds gated community also offers flying opportunities with its 2,700-foot runway. A home there is on the market for $3.7 million, and the lucky buyer will have the opportunity to build a custom hangar on the property.

Wing South Airpark, a luxury residential development in Naples, FL, offers similar amenities. Each home includes a custom hangar and the development is built around a private runway.

In fact, private jet travel has sparked a housing boom in Florida, and South Florida in particular has become a hub for affluent homeowners who are looking for luxury living and want the flexibility that the many private airports offer. the region.

Finding a home in the air park

The aviation real estate market is its own niche, with a number of agents and brokers specializing in air park properties and airport access homes.

After finding the right agent, prospective home buyers should research the air park they are interested in and learn the rules and regulations. Airparks are usually controlled by an HOA and have restrictions on the types of aircraft that are allowed.

Although airpark homes typically sell for a premium, choosing a community in a more rural or remote area can offset the price increase, McLaughlin says.

“Not only do you get the cheaper housing that comes from being in a satellite commuter suburb, but you also don’t get the aggravation and frustration that would come from sitting in traffic already while you’re flying over it all to get .to your destination,” he says.

“One of the best feelings in the world is flying over a traffic jam.”