Christie’s International Real Estate’s just-released 2018 “Luxury Defined” report cites a reenergized global economy, stock market strength and rising consumer confidence
Hong Kong named top luxury market for the second year, followed by New York City and London
Victoria, British Columbia, claims “hottest primary housing market” designation; Santa Fe, New Mexico emerges as “hottest second-home market” as second-home markets rally
After a year of tepid growth in 2016, sales of international luxury homes bounced back in 2017, posting the best annual growth rate in three years at 11 percent. Rising consumer confidence, low interest rates, a robust stock market and a stable global economy drove demand for luxury property last year, continuing into 2018, despite localized pockets of uncertainty that gave some buyers pause. The research is being unveiled in Luxury Defined, the just-released annual analysis of global luxury residential housing dynamics by Christie’s International Real Estate, the world’s leading expert on high-end real estate.
Worldwide sales of million-dollar-plus homes in primary housing markets were up 10 percent year-on-year, the strongest annual gains in this luxury housing cohort recorded in the previous three Luxury Defined reports. With two residential sales over US$100 million – one for US$360 million – and the highest price per square foot of any urban area, Hong Kong earned the top spot for the second consecutive year on the Luxury Index, which ranks the top 10 luxury prime property markets globally. New York City, which saw luxury price increases and stable sales volumes, climbed to second place pushing London into the third spot.
Victoria, British Columbia, topped the Luxury Thermometer of hottest primary markets, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, which reached sales volumes of million-dollar-plus homes not seen since pre-crisis years, topped the Luxury Thermometer of second home markets. Sales volumes of second-home and resort lifestyle destinations grew by 19 percent, up from a seven percent annual decline in the prior year.
With few exceptions, other than at the ultra-high-end of the luxury market, inventory constraints in many primary property markets—and even in some second-home markets—continue largely unabated with little being done by governments to ameliorate the situation. Buyers from different, traditionally non-competing demographic and lifestyle cohorts vied for a limited supply of high-end residences, particularly at the entry-level luxury tiers. Limited stock and high demand reduced the time needed to sell—luxury homes across more than 80 luxury housing markets worldwide sold in an average of 190 days in 2017, down from 220 days in 2016. Yet, as the report reveals, trophy home sales dipped slightly as evidenced by the fact that only three homes achieved the US$100-million-plus “billionaire’s benchmark,” and the year’s 10 most expensive homes sold for an aggregate of US$1.24 billion, down from US$1.32 billion in 2016.
Dan Conn, CEO of Christie’s International Real Estate, commented: “There are a number of tailwinds for the luxury residential real estate markets, including buoyant equity markets and a relatively stable global economy. Factors that dampen investor enthusiasm in other asset classes, such as equity market volatility – the first quarter VIX volatility index recorded its highest quarterly average since 2007 – support a flight to the safety of real assets. Political uncertainty has also led investors to diversify into this less volatile asset class. Christie’s International Real Estate’s global network of luxury residential experts advise property investors and sellers on how to navigate these challenges and the opportunities they create. As part of Christie’s art auction house, we are uniquely qualified to understand the shifts and trends impacting high value asset classes, from fine art to fine homes, alongside the motivations of the affluent individuals who purchase them.”
Now in its sixth year, the study synthesizes data from more than 80 brokerages worldwide, compiling observations of luxury drivers from on-the-ground experts to overarching insights from Christie’s International Real Estate executives.
Christie’s International Real Estate is wholly owned by Christie’s and is committed to its core values of expertise in marketing luxury assets, exemplary client service, trust and discretion. The Luxury Defined study can be accessed at christiesrealestate.com/
Connect with Christie’s International Real Estate on Twitter @christieshomes, on Instagram @christiesrealestate, and join the conversation about the findings with #LuxuryDefined.
About Christie’s International Real Estate
Christie’s International Real Estate has successfully marketed high-value real estate around the world for more than 30 years. Through its New York City brokerage and invitation-only Affiliate network spanning 50 countries, Christie’s International Real Estate offers incomparable services to a global clientele at the luxury end of the residential property market. The company has offices in London, New York City, Hong Kong, Moscow, Los Angeles, and Palm Beach, and its affiliated brokerages have recorded approximately US$500 billion of real estate transactions over the last five years. (Data as of March 31, 2018). For additional information, please visit www.christiesrealestate.
