As Wealthy Buyers Flee Major Cities, Developers Meet Demand With ‘Naturehoods’

A number of wealthy homebuyers working virtually are leaving cities to settle in mountainous regions and nature havens with wide open space for new construction projects. As a result, developers are building sustainable communities called “naturehoods” and “agrihoods," which include recreational amenities like community gardens, horseback riding, and miles of walking and biking trails, Insider reports.

One such naturehood is Benloch Ranch, a 154-lot development one hour outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. The master planned community offers ten different models of high-end homes, all within range of the Deer Valley Ski Resort and some of the best outdoor amenities Utah has to offer.

Benloch Ranch's popularity is thanks to one of the hottest amenities in luxury real estate right now: "fresh air," Jamie Mackay, the community's lead developer, told Insider.

Those who could afford to flee heavily populated areas during the pandemic realized "that they're asleep at the wheel out in the city" and ended up preferring the mountain town lifestyle, Mackay told Insider.

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