As the great wealth transfer begins to unfold, Gen X and millennials will, over the next decade, start to inherit $4.6 trillion in real estate globally, with the U.S. expected to gain a whopping 52 percent of that property transfer.
Through their lifestyle and investment choices, and a desire for unique, high-functioning homes, these generations are reshaping the luxury market, according to Coldwell Banker Global Luxury’s 2026 Trend Report, which was released on Friday.
Michael Altneu | Coldwell Banker Global Luxury
“The next generations are inheriting a historic amount of wealth and approaching luxury with intention,” Michael Altneu, vice president of the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury program, said in a press statement. “They are choosing homes that reflect their identity, support their day-to-day lifestyles, and protect long-term financial value.
“For many, real estate has become a strategic piece of their wealth planning and a sanctuary for their well-being.”
The report draws on three years of luxury home sales data, data from global wealth research companies and a survey of more than 100 Coldwell Banker Global Luxury property specialists.
Even as many homebuyers have pulled away from the market in the past year due to higher rates and other affordability challenges, luxury buyers have continued to grow their property portfolios, according to the 2026 Trend Report. In the past six years, global wealth among high-net-worth individuals has increased almost 40 percent, 29.4 percent of which is accounted for by real estate, the report noted.
Luxury homebuyers continue to see real estate as a stable financial investment, and are drawn towards value- and experience-driven properties. Going into 2026, those factors and others will shape the luxury market. Take a look at some of the report’s top emerging trends for the new year below.
Market resiliency
Ultra-high-net-worth individuals have continued to invest in luxury real estate even amid market headwinds in recent years, the 2026 Trend Report found. About 80 percent of Coldwell Banker Global Luxury agents surveyed said their markets remain “resilient,” with steadily growing median prices and a regular turnover of inventory.
Nationwide, single-family luxury home prices rose 3 percent in 2025 as sales rose 4 percent, reflecting steady demand and “confidence” in the market, Altneu said in the report.
“Luxury buyers are staying active, prices are holding and demand is concentrating in markets that offer lifestyle depth and long-term stability. That’s why these markets continue to perform.”
Wealth gains in the US
As American Gen X and millennial heirs inherit a majority of all global luxury real estate in the next decade, those with $5 million to $30 million in net worth are poised to drive 65.7 percent of U.S. property wealth transfers, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury reported.
Millennials are on track to inherit the largest share of wealth through real estate over the long-term, the report noted.
The move toward ‘nest investing’
For luxury buyers, real estate is increasingly viewed as both a lifestyle and wealth investment, the report noted, with buyers making very value-driven decisions. This mentality is leading to more discretionary spending on upgrading primary homes and acquiring second homes.
Of those individuals with a net worth of $30 million or more, home-related spending is poised to soon outpace spending on personal luxury goods by 18.5 percent. Younger heirs are also now preserving more of their portfolios for real estate compared to older generations.
Growing luxury markets in the South and Midwest
Wealth migration is bringing new life to luxury markets in the South and Midwest, where the affluent have been attracted by stability, lifestyle amenities and long-term real estate value.
Atlanta, San Diego, Nashville, Dallas, Salt Lake City and Minneapolis have all experienced steady price growth over the past five years, backed by strong local economies and robust lifestyle amenities.
“Affluent buyers have more geographic flexibility than ever before,” Altneu said in the report. “As wealth becomes more mobile, buyers are choosing different cities, and that shift is changing where luxury demand concentrates globally.”
‘Quiet luxury’ steps aside
Jade Mills | Coldwell Banker
The days of an understated, “quiet” form of luxury may be coming to a close, according to the 2026 Trend Report. Luxury buyers are increasingly moving toward large homes with “distinction” that embrace multi-use living.
Nearly 64 percent of single-family home inquiries among luxury buyers are for those with five or more bedrooms, according to the firm’s survey.
“For today’s ultra-luxury buyers, special characteristics matter,” Jade Mills, president of Jade Mills Estate and an International Ambassador of the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury program, said in the firm’s report. “They want homes with presence and lasting value, including acreage and privacy, forever views and architectural quality. Homes must tell a story to truly stand out.”
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