Rancho Mission Viejo Named Among World's Largest Wellness Real Estate Developments

The Global Wellness Institute has identified Rancho Mission Viejo as one of only 13 global developments featured in its comprehensive wellness real estate case studies report. This 23,000-acre master-planned community in Orange County, California represents a significant achievement in scaling wellness principles across large residential developments.

Jeremy Laster, President of Rancho Mission Viejo, emphasized that community design serves as a catalyst for wellbeing, with wellness integration spanning land planning, neighborhood design, infrastructure, and resident programming. The community's approach focuses on creating access to nature, social connections, and opportunities for pursuing multiple dimensions of wellness throughout residents' lifetimes.

The recognition comes at a time when wellness has become the primary purchase motivator in housing decisions according to the America at Home Study. This trend is reflected in resident feedback, with 82% of surveyed residents reporting that living in the community supports their overall wellbeing. The development incorporates multiple wellness elements including preserved open space through The Nature Reserve, walkable neighborhoods, intergenerational living options with Gavilán 55+ homes integrated throughout the community, and comprehensive agricultural programs.

Teri Slavik-Tsuyuki, Co-Chair of the GWI Wellness Communities & Real Estate Initiative, noted that Rancho Mission Viejo demonstrates how wellness extends beyond amenities to create opportunities for healthier, more connected living. The community's approach includes climate resilience strategies, wildfire adaptation measures, state-of-the-art recreational facilities, and extensive programming that encourages social interaction and physical activity.

The wellness real estate sector represents the fastest-growing segment of the wellness industry in the United States, projected to grow 15.2% annually through 2029 when it will exceed one trillion dollars globally. Katherine Johnston, Senior Research Fellow at GWI, highlighted that while many wellness-focused developments remain small boutique projects, Rancho Mission Viejo provides a model for implementing wellness real estate at scale. This scalability factor makes the community's approach particularly significant for the future of residential development.

The recognition underscores a broader shift in real estate development toward creating environments that actively support resident health and wellbeing. As consumers increasingly prioritize wellness in housing decisions, developments like Rancho Mission Viejo establish new benchmarks for how large communities can integrate health-promoting features while maintaining economic viability. The community's inclusion in the Global Wellness Institute report positions it as a reference point for developers, urban planners, and policymakers seeking to create healthier living environments at scale.