Airparks Are Gaining in Popularity: The Exclusive ‘Fly-In Communities’ That Offer a Runway on Your Doorstep

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

Residential airparks are communities organized around airports, with deeded access directly from homes to taxiways, 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 get airborne down to a matter of minutes after leaving the house.

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

However, the convenience of airparks often comes at a price. According to an analysis by the Realtor.com® economic research team, home listings that included keywords associated with airparks were priced at a 30% premium to 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 airpark homes: the utility aircraft owners gain from being able to directly access a taxiway from their home, and the higher purchasing power of aircraft owners and pilots.

“Aircraft ownership, although not as expensive as you might think, does tend to come with higher costs and higher income needed to maintain and operate that aircraft, and that tends to be predominantly found amongst higher-income households,” he says.

How many airparks are there?

The first residential aviation community in the world was Sierra Sky Park in Fresno, CA. First 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 plane and several cars, or backyard hangars for aircraft storage.

Today, there are nearly 700 airparks across the U.S., according to a database maintained by Living With Your Plane. Texas has the most, at 84, followed by closely by Florida with 80.

Southeast Florida in particular is home to multiple fly-in, fly-out airpark communities, where homeowners can simply park their planes in their driveways.

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

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

The Wing South Airpark, a luxury housing 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 wealthy homeowners who are looking for luxury living and want the flexibility that the region’s multiple private airports offer.

Finding an airpark home

The aviation real estate market is its own special niche, with a number of agents and brokerages specializing in airpark properties and homes with airport access.

After finding the right agent, prospective homebuyers should research the airpark they are interested in and learn the rules and regulations. Airparks are typically controlled by an HOA and have limits on the types of aircraft that are allowed.

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

“Not only do you get the cheaper house 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 a traffic jam as you’re flying over all of that to get to to your destination,” he says.

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

 Julie Gerstein contributed to this report.