Top 10 Healthiest Luxury Real Estate Markets in the United States Heading Into 2026
A National Ranking Countdown Based on Market Health and Sustainability
In 2025 the US luxury real estate market shifted decisively away from speculation and urgency and toward balance discipline and long term fundamentals. Rather than rewarding the fastest or flashiest markets the year highlighted those with sustainable demand pricing stability and thoughtful buyer and seller behavior.
The rankings below are based on national luxury housing data provided by The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing as part of my Elite membership. Markets were evaluated using sales ratios price stability days on market inventory absorption and overall predictability rather than hype or short term spikes. Read the full luxury real estate market report here.
Healthiest does not mean most expensive or most competitive. It means resilient balanced and positioned for long term success.
Countdown The Healthiest Luxury Real Estate Markets in the US 2025
Number 10 Marin County California
Marin County rounds out the top ten due to extreme supply constraints long term desirability and consistent high net worth demand. While transaction volume can be limited pricing integrity remains strong and buyers continue to compete for scarce high quality inventory.
Marin functions as a legacy luxury market driven by lifestyle location and scarcity rather than market cycles.
Number 9 Scottsdale Arizona
Scottsdale earned its ranking by successfully transitioning from rapid appreciation to normalization without weakening. The market stabilized cleanly with continued lifestyle driven demand and pricing that held firm even as buyer urgency cooled.
This ability to normalize without distress is a hallmark of a healthy market.
Number 8 Nashville Tennessee
Nashville continued to perform as a strong lifestyle driven luxury market supported by business migration cultural influence and population growth. Demand remained consistent and pricing appreciation stayed disciplined rather than overheated.
Nashville demonstrated balance rather than boom behavior in 2025.
Number 7 Raleigh Durham North Carolina
Raleigh Durham emerged as one of the quietest but healthiest luxury markets in the country. Strong job growth low days on market and steady inbound migration supported demand while avoiding overbuilding and speculative pricing.
Its long term stability and predictability placed it firmly in the top tier.
Number 6 Chicago Suburban Luxury Markets
Select Chicago suburban luxury markets stood out for liquidity consistency and strong buyer depth. These submarkets posted high sales ratios short days on market and stable pricing despite broader regional challenges.
They outperformed expectations by remaining resilient and disciplined.
Number 5 Seattle Washington
Seattle earned its place due to constrained supply strong absorption and continued demand from high income employment sectors. Luxury homes sold close to list price and inventory remained limited.
Despite shifts in the tech sector Seattle remained one of the most reliable luxury markets nationwide.
Number 4 Washington DC Metro Area
The Washington DC metro area ranked highly due to institutional demand stable employment and consistent buyer activity. Luxury homes continued to sell efficiently with strong pricing support.
DC remains insulated from many volatility factors affecting other regions.
Number 3 Silicon Valley California
Silicon Valley continues to demonstrate structural strength driven by income density limited housing supply and ultra high net worth demand. Homes sold quickly with strong cash activity and minimal inventory pressure.
While competitive Silicon Valley remains fundamentally healthy and globally relevant.
Number 2 Greater Boston Massachusetts
Greater Boston ranked near the top due to its consistency pricing resilience and long term supply constraints. Supported by global wealth education driven demand and diverse employment Boston avoided extreme swings and remained highly predictable.
This balance made it one of the healthiest luxury markets in the US.
Number 1 Austin Texas
Austin ranked as the healthiest luxury real estate market in the United States for 2025 due to its early transition into balance while maintaining strong pricing and demand. Austins luxury single family market posted a 13 percent sales ratio placing it firmly in Balanced Market territory.
Inventory expanded without distress pricing remained resilient and inbound migration continued to support demand. Importantly Austin also has a robust private off market luxury sector where many of the highest priced transactions occur outside of MLS data. When private market activity is considered the depth of luxury demand is even stronger than public statistics alone suggest.
Austin stood out nationally not by being the hottest market but by being the most sustainable.
Final Thoughts
The healthiest luxury real estate markets in 2025 shared common traits balance pricing discipline strong fundamentals and long term appeal. Austin led the nation by embodying all of these qualities while offering both public and private market depth.
As the luxury market moves into 2026 working with an advisor who understands both the data and the nuances behind it has never been more important.
Let's Connect
If you are considering buying or selling luxury real estate in Austin or the Texas Hill Country now is the time to work with an advisor who understands both national market trends and the local private market dynamics that truly shape outcomes at the highest price points. I would welcome the opportunity to provide a confidential consultation tailored to your goals and to share insight into both on market and off market luxury opportunities. I am Megan Kirkpatrick and I have had the honor of helping cherished clients purchase and sell real estate in Texas for over two decades. I will be delighted to connect with you to see how I can be of service to you on your Texas real estate journey.
To connect and work with me call or text me at 512-709-4509 or visit
https://ivyresidentialgroup.com/contact
