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

Rancho Mission Viejo has been recognized as one of the world's largest intentional wellness real estate developments by the Global Wellness Institute. The 23,000-acre master-planned community in Orange County, California, was one of only 13 projects globally featured in the newly released GWI Build Well to Live Well Report: Case Studies. This recognition highlights the community's success in achieving measurable health outcomes through intentional design.

Jeremy Laster, President of Rancho Mission Viejo, stated that the recognition validates the community's foundational vision that design can serve as a catalyst for wellbeing. The approach encompasses land planning, stewardship, neighborhood design, infrastructure, and resident programming to create access to nature and spaces that support wellness at every life stage. According to the recent America at Home Study, wellness has become the primary purchase motivator for housing decisions, with 82% of Rancho Mission Viejo residents reporting that living in the community supports their overall wellbeing.

Teri Slavik-Tsuyuki, Co-Chair of the GWI Wellness Communities & Real Estate Initiative, emphasized that Rancho Mission Viejo exemplifies how wellness can be intentionally integrated into every community facet, moving beyond amenities to create opportunities for healthier, more connected living. Wellness is embedded throughout the built environment, including access to preserved open space on The Nature Reserve, walkability, intergenerational living with Gavilán 55+ homes, community farm programs, sports parks, climate resilience measures, and extensive resident programming.

The Global Wellness Institute reports that wellness real estate represents the fastest-growing wellness sector in the United States, projected to grow 15.2% annually from 2024 to 2029 and exceed one trillion dollars globally. Katherine Johnston, Senior Research Fellow at GWI, noted that while many wellness-focused developments remain small and boutique, Rancho Mission Viejo demonstrates how to implement wellness real estate at scale. For more information about the community's approach, visit https://www.ranchomissionviejo.com.

This recognition comes as the wellness real estate market continues to evolve from niche projects to mainstream development strategies. The case study positioning of Rancho Mission Viejo alongside only 12 other global projects underscores the significance of its approach to integrating wellness dimensions into large-scale community planning. The development partnership between Rancho Mission Viejo, LLC and DMB Associates has enabled the implementation of comprehensive wellness strategies across the community's residential and recreational spaces.