Global inquiries double in 2026 as affluent clients chase land, privacy and scale
Prospective buyer interest in US luxury real estate has doubled during the first five months of 2026, with affluent purchasers increasingly buying up neighboring properties to expand privacy, protect views and accommodate multiple generations under one roof.
The findings come from the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury program's 2026 Mid-Year Report, which draws on luxury sales figures, wealth and property research, and a survey of the firm's Luxury Property Specialists.
The report describes a practice it labels "landmaxxing," in which wealthy buyers purchase larger parcels or adjoining homes rather than simply upsizing a single property.
Searches for distinctive properties, including estates, châteaux, castles, historic homes, branded residences and private islands, climbed 146% year over year, while land searches rose 97%. Location still outweighs condition for many shoppers: close to 40% of surveyed specialists said clients would accept a property needing work if the address was right, a sign that move-in-ready supply remains tight.
Luxury single-family sales rose 2.8% year over year even as attached properties such as condos and townhomes fell 3.8%.
"A luxury home can be built almost anywhere, but land is finite," said Blaylock, president of Coldwell Banker Affiliates. "Features like waterfront acreage, historic estates, or expansive ranches are in high demand, but they require space to maintain and build. Affluent buyers are purchasing properties with that in mind."
Searches for US real estate from international luxury shoppers rose 100% in the first five months of the year, based on Coldwell Banker's review of data from luxury marketplace JamesEdition. California drew the largest share of international inquiries among US states, followed by New York and Florida, though New York posted the fastest growth in interest from overseas buyers.
Asset shift
Wealthy buyers are also directing more of their assets toward real estate.
Across the top 10% of 120 US markets, total luxury dollar volume rose $3.7 billion year over year in 2026. Nearly 60% of that increase, $2.2 billion, came from the top 1% to 5% segment alone, which grew 7.8% year over year.
More than four in five specialists, 82.3%, said clients are holding steady or adding to their real estate portfolios, up from 69% a year earlier. Confidence is also climbing: 78% of specialists described themselves as confident in the market's health, versus 59% last year, and 49% said clients increasingly view luxury property as a safe-haven asset.
The report points to a growing split within the luxury tier itself.
Ultra-high-net-worth buyers, cushioned by cash reserves, are moving faster on single-family and unique properties, while buyers just below that bracket appear to be holding off, possibly awaiting clearer signals on rates or the broader economy.
All-cash purchases among luxury clients rose among 63% of specialists, up from 51% a year ago, and 25.5% flagged the wealth divide as an active trend in their markets, compared with 20.4% previously.
By May 2026, the top 5% of luxury transactions accounted for 65.6% of total dollar volume in the single-family sector. Within that, the top 1% to 5% bracket alone captured 42.8% of single-family dollar volume and 42.7% of attached-property volume, both larger shares than in 2025. Median sold prices reflected the same pattern: the top 5% climbed 8% and the top 1% rose 6.5%, while the broader top 10% lagged at 4.7% growth year over year.
Inventory outlook
Despite falling inventory levels, the report suggests supply could loosen as the year progresses.
Many affluent sellers appear to be waiting for greater rate and economic clarity before listing, and nearly 60% of specialists expect inventory to tick up modestly in the second half of 2026 as seller confidence firms.
The report also cites National Association of Realtors data showing the share of homeowners with mortgage rates above 6% is closing in on the share still holding rates near 3%, a shift that could eventually unlock more listings.
