Fortress chic: Interest in homes with bunkers, panic rooms and hidden spaces up 546%

A nice kitchen and a swimming pool just won’t cut it in 2020.

“In the last 24 hours, searches for houses with ’emergency spaces’ such as bunkers, panic rooms and hidden fortified rooms have increased 546%, as America waits for all votes to be counted and the election result is confirmed,” reported ISoldMyHouse.com on Wednesday.

The national online real estate marketplace has tracked the changing preferences in a poll of 2,183 home buyers over time, and found that two thirds (64%) would consider putting an offer on a house with its own safe room. Another 49% think the U.S could be on the verge of another Civil War.

Home buyers in Florida lead the nation with a preference for such emergency spaces, and consider them “the most desirable home feature.”

Buyers in Arizona are in second place, followed by those in Nevada, California, Ohio, Texas, Idaho, Washington and Minnesota, the poll found.

“Everyone has their own checklist when it comes to finding that perfect dream house, but pools, gardens and private parking are no longer the top priorities for home buyers in 2020. From our data it seems what people really want are fortified basements, panic rooms or bunkers within the grounds of their house,” said Kris Lippi, a real estate broker and the founder of the host site.

This year has taken its toll on a lot of people — a global pandemic, riots and protests, the election – it’s no wonder Americans want to feel safer in their own homes,” he said.

“Every year 31 million Americans move house, that’s 9.8% of the population. If this trend continues, sellers may want to consider investing in adding a bunker or panic room to help get their house off the market faster or above asking price — there’s clearly more demand for the feature,” Mr. Lippi noted.