2025 Mid‑Year Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Trend Report: Key Trends & Insights

The Coldwell Banker Global Luxury 2025 Mid‑Year Trend Report, released June 25, 2025, revisits the forecast from January’s Trend Report and provides a timely update backed by the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing and a survey of Luxury Property Specialists.

1. Luxury Prices Press Onward

• Single-family luxury home prices are up 1.8% YoY, and 8.0% above 2023 levels.
• Attached properties surged 8.4% YoY, with a 16.5% increase since 2023

2. Inventory at Two-Year High

• Listings rose 40.4% (single-family) and 42.6% (attached), providing buyers more options while well-presented homes still command top dollar

3. Seller Segmentation: Elite vs Smart

• "No-compromise" buyers pay top dollar for prime, move-in-ready luxury homes.
• “Smart” buyers focus on value—considering location trade-offs or renovations

4. Luxury Real Estate as Portfolio Anchor

• 68% of specialists say clients are maintaining or increasing real estate holdings.
• 96% report cash purchases remain steady or rising—a testament to the sector’s safe-haven status

5. Equity-Fueled Buyer Influx

With home prices up 47% over five years, growing homeowner equity is elevating move-up buyers into luxury tiers for the first time

6. Demographic Shift: Millennials & Gen Z

• 43% report rising Millennial/Gen Z luxury purchases, while 29% note steady Gen X activity
• These buyers favor turnkey, sustainable, tech-forward homes

7. Ultra-Wealth vs Aspirational Buyers

• Ultra-rich buyers stay active, tapping cash reserves
• Affluent aspirational buyers (net worth $1M–$5M) are more value-sensitive and cautious  

 8. Lifestyle Over Lavishness

Nearly 47% of specialists expect economic caution to prompt a shift from indulgent luxury to homes prioritizing tax strategy, liquidity, and long-term value

What This Means for Fairfield County & Luxury Markets (Greenwich, Darien, Westport, etc.)

Sellers:

• Emphasize smart staging and pricing to attract "no-compromise" buyers.
• Highlight investment value and cash-purchase readiness.

Listings:

• Offer more choices but price shrewdly—demand is healthy but price-sensitive buyers are evaluating carefully.

Marketing Messaging:

• Draw in young, tech-forward buyers by spotlighting sustainability, smart-home capabilities, and generational flexibility.

Positioning:

• In Fairfield County and upscale suburbs, lean into portfolio-savvy buyer narratives, focusing on stability, legacy value, and tax efficiency.

The mid‑year report confirms that 2025’s luxury real estate market is resilient, nuanced, and opportunity-rich. As inventory expands and buyer types diversify, luxury sellers should aim to balance refinement with pragmatism—showcasing not just beauty, but strategy. Particularly in competition‑intensive markets like Greenwich or Westport, emphasizing smart luxury, all-cash readiness, and multi-generational readiness will resonate with both ultra-wealthy and aspirational buyers.

Contact Eric Radecki luxury real estate agent and owner Coldwell Banker Realty LLC for a free market consultation when deciding to sell your luxury home or buy luxury real estate. Call 475-245-4205 or register at ColdwellBankerLuxuryHome.com.

Get access to the full 2025 Mid-Year Report by clicking here